EP0191495B1 - Desk-top thermal printer - Google Patents

Desk-top thermal printer Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0191495B1
EP0191495B1 EP86101851A EP86101851A EP0191495B1 EP 0191495 B1 EP0191495 B1 EP 0191495B1 EP 86101851 A EP86101851 A EP 86101851A EP 86101851 A EP86101851 A EP 86101851A EP 0191495 B1 EP0191495 B1 EP 0191495B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
desk
thermal printer
label
printer according
stepping motor
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
EP86101851A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0191495A2 (en
EP0191495A3 (en
Inventor
Yo Sato
Tadao Kashiwaba
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.)
Sato Corp
Original Assignee
Sato 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 Sato Corp filed Critical Sato Corp
Publication of EP0191495A2 publication Critical patent/EP0191495A2/en
Publication of EP0191495A3 publication Critical patent/EP0191495A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0191495B1 publication Critical patent/EP0191495B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/315—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
    • B65C11/00—Manually-controlled or manually-operable label dispensers, e.g. modified for the application of labels to articles
    • B65C11/02—Manually-controlled or manually-operable label dispensers, e.g. modified for the application of labels to articles having printing equipment
    • B65C11/0289—Manually-controlled or manually-operable label dispensers, e.g. modified for the application of labels to articles having printing equipment using electrical or electro-mechanical means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
    • B65C2210/00—Details of manually controlled or manually operable label dispensers
    • B65C2210/0002—Data entry devices
    • B65C2210/0013—Keyboards; Touchscreens
    • B65C2210/0018—Keyboards; Touchscreens permanent

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a desk-top thermal printer and particularly to a desk-top thermal printer capable of selectively removing or not removing printed labels from their backing sheet.
  • thermal printers have come into use as output devices in wide-ranging applications.
  • the thermal printer is used to print bar codes on labels and the labels are in turn used in various ways for data processing and system administration.
  • the printed labels depending on the place where the printed labels are used and the type of processing system employed, there are cases where the printed labels have to be peeled off one by one from their backing sheet before use and other cases where it is necessary for the printer to print out a predetermined number of labels in a continuous strip without peeling them off from the backing sheet.
  • thermal printer which can be used in both of these cases, i.e. it has been necessary to keep on hand two different types of thermal printers, one for the first type of operation and one for the second. This is disadvantageous in terms of both equipment cost and operational efficiency.
  • a desk-top thermal printer having a thermal printing means for thermally printing characters, marks or the like on thermal sensitive labels.
  • Said labels are detachably attached to a backing sheet both forming a continuous label strip.
  • Said printer comprises a main unit having a passage for passing said continuous label strip.
  • a labelling peeling means is provided for peeling said labels from said backing sheet and a stepping motor is provided for driving a sheet drive roller which engages and feeds the backing sheet.
  • a desk-top thermal printer comprising a main unit having a passage for passing a continuous label strip consisting of thermosensitive labels detachably attached to a backing sheet and a flat bottom surface for supporting the main unit on a freely selectable flat surface, a retaining means for retaining a roll of the label strip, a thermal label detecting means, a thermal label strip transfer means having a stepping motor and a sheet drive roller, a thermal printing means having a thermal printing head and a platen roller for thermally printing characters, marks or the like on the thermosensitive labels transferred by the transfer means to pass between the thermal printing head and the platen roller, a label peeling means, a data input means, a data display means and a control means for controlling the operation of the aforesaid means, the sheet drive roller and the platen roller being driven by the stepping motor.
  • the desk-top thermal printer according to the present invention can be made small in size and easy to carry from place to place, can be used for label printing simply by placing it on any available flat surface, and has its sheet drive roller and platen roller driven by a stepping motor. It can therefore print and feed out labels in different modes of operation, making it usable as an output device for a wide range of purposes in various fields of application.
  • the desk-top thermal printer 1 comprises a main unit 2 having a horizontal top surface 3, a bottom surface 4, an inclined top surface 5, a front surface 6 and left and right side surfaces 7.
  • the horizontal top surface 3 is provided with a keyboard 8 having a number of keys for use as data input means, while the portion of the inclined top surface 5 adjacent to the horizontal top surface 3 is provided with a display 9 serving as a data display means.
  • a pair of start buttons 10 are provided one on each of the side surfaces 7 at positions below the horizontal top surface 3 and an open/close button 11 is positioned on one of the side surfaces 7 at the upper portion thereof.
  • the front surface 6 has a cover 12 for closing a housing for a battery 34 whose function will be explained later and an outlet 13 for permitting a backing sheet S to pass out of the main unit 1. At the upper edge of the outlet 13 is positioned a cutter 14.
  • a retaining member 15 for retaining a roll R of label strip T is positioned below the inclined top surface 5 and the label strip T passes from the roll R into a label strip passage 17 as guided by a guide roller 16.
  • the label strip T consists of a backing sheet S having a plurality of thermosensitive labels L, each having an adhesive back surface, detachably adhered continuously along its length.
  • the label strip T passes over a guide roller 18 and a label sensor 19 and comes between a thermal printing head 20 and a platen roller 21, at which position the thermal printing head 20 prints the label L with characters, marks or the like which, depending on the data input via the keyboard 8, may form a bar code B as shown in Figure 3.
  • the thermal printing head 20 is rotatably supported on a pin 22 and is so arranged that the pressure of the head can be adjusted by means of a spring 23 and a screw 24.
  • the thermal printing head 20 completes printing of the label L
  • only the backing sheet is sharply bent and redirected at a sheet bending pin 25, while the label L is peeled from the backing sheet S by a combination of this sharp bending action with the action of an auxiliary peeling roller 26.
  • the peeled label L is then fed out of the main unit 2 so as to come to rest on a label receiving cushion 27.
  • the backing sheet S proceeds over a guide roller 28 and comes into engagement with a sheet drive roller 29 by which it is discharged outside of the main unit 2 through the outlet 13.
  • the length of the backing sheet S that has passed out of the main unit 2 can be cut off as convenient by the cutter 14.
  • the open/close button 11 is operated to allow the section including the platen roller 21 to swing upwardly about a pin 30, making it possible to insert a new roll R.
  • the platen roller 21 is linked with a stepping motor 31 through a plunger gear 60, an idle gear 61, an idle pulley 62, timing belt 63 and driving pulley 64, while the sheet drive roller 29 is linked with the stepping motor 31 through a shaft 65, a gear 66, a slip mechanism 67 and a timing belt 32. Stepped rotation performed by the stepping motor 31 upon the receipt of driving pulses is transmitted to the platen roller 21 and the sheet drive roller 29, causing them to rotate as indicated by the arrow in Figure 2.
  • the control circuit 33 is provided inside the main unit 2 at a position beneath the keyboard 8. This control circuit 33 is electrically connected by means not illustrated in the figures to the label sensor 19, the thermal printing head 20, the stepping motor 31, the keyboard 8, the display 9, the start buttons 10 and the battery 34 housed in a compartment under the control circuit 33.
  • the horizontal top surface 3 of the main unit 2 is provided with a key guard 35, and the bottom surface 4 is provided with two pairs of legs 36 (only one pair shown) for supporting the thermal printer 1 on any available flat surface D.
  • the side surfaces 7 are respectively provided with recessed portions 37 (only one shown) for making it easier to hold the thermal printer 1 in one hand while operating the keys of the keyboard 8 with the other.
  • the backing sheet S of the label strip T is provided with cuts C for engagement by the sheet drive roller 29.
  • the printer 1 can be placed on any flat surface D during operation and can be easily transported by hand from one such flat surface to another, whereby it becomes possible for the operator to print labels at whatever place is convenient.
  • the thermal printer 1 When the thermal printer 1 is operated in the mode in which the labels are separated from the backing sheet S one by one, only the backing sheet S is sharply bent and redirected at the sheet bending pin 25, thus causing the label L to peel off the backing sheet S.
  • the label backing sheet S of the label strip T is inserted between the guide roller 28 and the sheet drive roller 29, whereafter any slack in the backing sheet S between the sheet bending pin 25 and the sheet drive roller 29 can be taken up by rotation of the sheet drive roller 29. Then, since the gear 66 associated with the sheet drive roller 29 is provided with the slip mechanism 67, the backing sheet S is thereafter fed in the direction of the outlet 13 by slipping rotation of the sheet drive roller 29.
  • the operator presses the keys of the keyboard 8 to input the desired data.
  • the input data appears on the display 9, its accuracy can easily be confirmed.
  • the stepping motor 31 rotates the sheet drive roller 29 causing it to advance the label strip T and at the same time the thermal printing head 20 prints one of the labels L with a bar code B or other desired pattern.
  • the portion of the backing sheet S bearing the printed label L bends around the sheet bending pin 25, the label L is peeled off the backing sheet S and is discharged onto the label receiving cushion 27.
  • the operator can then remove the peeled-off label L from the main unit 2 with his fingers and affix it on an object (not shown) such as a piece of merchandise or a parcel for delivery, whereby it can be used for data administration.
  • an object such as a piece of merchandise or a parcel for delivery, whereby it can be used for data administration.
  • the object may be drawn across the top of the thermal printer in the direction indicated by the arrow A so as to directly affix the printed label L thereon.
  • the thermal printer 1 When the thermal printer 1 is to be operated in the mode in which the labels are not separated from the backing sheet S but are fed out from the inclined top surface 5 together with the backing sheet S, it is sufficient to thread the label strip T so that the backing sheet S is not bent back by the sheet bending pin but is discharged together with the labels L in the direction of the label receiving cushion 27.
  • the label strip T retained between the platen roller 21 and the thermal printing head 20 is conveyed by the rotation transmitted to the platen roller 21 by the stepping motor 31.
  • the thermal printer 1 can also be used as held in the hand.
  • the operator grasps the thermal printer at the recessed portions 37 with, for example, his left hand and operates the keys of the keyboard 8 with his right hand.
  • the aforesaid embodiment has been described as having a keyboard as the data input means, other arrangements are also possible.
  • a keyboard as the data input means
  • a reader e.g. a pen reader
  • the control circuit 33 can be constituted to include a ROM (read only memory) in which a control program and/or various data are stored. In this case, the control program and data can be easily changed by changing the ROM.
  • the stepping motor 31 and the sheet drive roller 29 are provided separately, it is alternatively possible to build the stepping motor 31 into the sheet drive roller 29 and to drive the platen roller 21 from here via the timing belt 63 or the like.
  • the label strip T is first fed out by the platen roller 21 and then with the platen roller 21 disconnected from the power source by means of the drive switching mechanism the backing sheet S is conveyed by the sheet drive roller 29.
  • the platen roller 21 is again connected with the drive source.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Labeling Devices (AREA)
  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
  • Printers Characterized By Their Purpose (AREA)
  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)
  • Record Information Processing For Printing (AREA)
EP86101851A 1985-02-13 1986-02-13 Desk-top thermal printer Expired - Lifetime EP0191495B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP60024455A JPS61185469A (ja) 1985-02-13 1985-02-13 卓上型サ−マルプリンタ−
JP24455/85 1985-02-13

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0191495A2 EP0191495A2 (en) 1986-08-20
EP0191495A3 EP0191495A3 (en) 1989-01-11
EP0191495B1 true EP0191495B1 (en) 1992-05-06

Family

ID=12138633

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86101851A Expired - Lifetime EP0191495B1 (en) 1985-02-13 1986-02-13 Desk-top thermal printer

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0191495B1 (ja)
JP (1) JPS61185469A (ja)
KR (1) KR920007697B1 (ja)
CA (1) CA1292637C (ja)
DE (2) DE191495T1 (ja)

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2551410B2 (ja) * 1986-06-10 1996-11-06 株式会社 サト− 電子式ハンドラベラ
JPS63110130A (ja) * 1986-10-17 1988-05-14 株式会社　サト− 携帯式ラベル印字機用デ−タ蓄積装置
US4813355A (en) * 1987-09-30 1989-03-21 Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. Hand-held printing and labeling device
JP3166206B2 (ja) * 1990-08-29 2001-05-14 セイコーエプソン株式会社 テーププリンタ及びその制御方法
US5525184A (en) * 1993-01-04 1996-06-11 Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. Label dispenser with selectable dispense modes including an on-demand mode
JP3545830B2 (ja) * 1995-04-27 2004-07-21 東芝テック株式会社 ラベルプリンタ
DE19832093A1 (de) 1997-08-22 1999-02-25 Esselte Nv Banddruckgerät
US7073717B1 (en) 1999-08-27 2006-07-11 Paxar Americas, Inc. Portable printer and data entry device connected thereto assembly
US6241407B1 (en) 1999-09-16 2001-06-05 Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. Portable printer
GB0024190D0 (en) 2000-10-03 2000-11-15 Lenthall Mark Label dispenser
EP1652775A1 (en) * 2004-11-02 2006-05-03 Suzanne K. Melges Perishable food labeler

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA1098371A (en) * 1977-07-28 1981-03-31 Donald S. Stewart Labelling machines
JPS6014352B2 (ja) * 1979-05-26 1985-04-12 キヤノン株式会社 記憶装置付会話装置
JPS564463A (en) * 1979-06-22 1981-01-17 Seiko Epson Corp Small-sized printer
US4440248A (en) * 1980-02-09 1984-04-03 Teraoka Seikosho Co., Ltd. Bar code printer
JPS5745082A (en) * 1980-09-02 1982-03-13 Seiko Epson Corp Electronic calculator with printer
US4386860A (en) * 1981-03-13 1983-06-07 Data Card Corporation High speed label printer
US4407692A (en) * 1981-05-29 1983-10-04 Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. Hand-held electrically selectable labeler
JPH0227613B2 (ja) * 1984-03-08 1990-06-19 Teraoka Seiko Kk Denshihakaryopurinta

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0191495A2 (en) 1986-08-20
CA1292637C (en) 1991-12-03
DE3685128D1 (de) 1992-06-11
KR860006341A (ko) 1986-09-09
JPS61185469A (ja) 1986-08-19
DE191495T1 (de) 1986-11-27
EP0191495A3 (en) 1989-01-11
KR920007697B1 (ko) 1992-09-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4757329A (en) Desk-top thermal printer
US4579466A (en) Label printer
EP0000657B2 (en) Labelling machines.
EP0066777B1 (en) Hand-held electrically selectable labeler
US5111216A (en) Tape supply cartridge for portable thermal printer
US5227617A (en) Hand-held label applicator with scanned data acquistion and selective data retrieval acquistion
US4630067A (en) Bar code printer
US4652317A (en) Hand held labeler having an optical reader
US7025518B2 (en) Printer for thermally sensitive adhesive sheet
US5049228A (en) Desk top type label printer
EP0191495B1 (en) Desk-top thermal printer
JPH01103472A (ja) 印字用シート頭出し機能付印字装置
EP0184730B1 (en) Thermal printing cassette and thermal printer
US4830522A (en) Electronic hand labeler with thermal printer and plural cutters
US6364552B1 (en) Method and apparatus for recording used labels
EP1066975B1 (en) Printer with variable platen pressure
CA1292765C (en) Electronic hand labeler
US5441586A (en) Label adhesion device and printer for index labels
JPH0227613B2 (ja) Denshihakaryopurinta
JPS6344619B2 (ja)
WO1991005665A1 (en) Improvements relating to hand-held printers
US5379692A (en) Apparatus for label transport
CA1235510A (en) Postal meter having thermal printer
JPH1016186A (ja) カード印刷機
JP2832849B2 (ja) プリンタにおける印字レイアウトの作成方法

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

EL Fr: translation of claims filed
DET De: translation of patent claims
PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

RHK1 Main classification (correction)

Ipc: B65C 11/02

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19890317

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19900503

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3685128

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19920611

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20050217

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20050221

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20050330

Year of fee payment: 20

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 20060212

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: PE20