FR2571692A1 - MANUAL LABELER - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A MANUAL LABELING MACHINE. IT RELATES TO A LABELING MACHINE IN WHICH THE PRINTING CARRIED OUT BY A THERMOGRAPHIC HEAD 26 IS CONTROLLED BY A KEYPAD 37 EQUIPPED WITH PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS SUSPENDED INSIDE THE CASE. A MOTOR ADVANCES A WHEEL 29 OF THE LENGTH OF A LABEL SO THAT AN APPLICATOR ROLLER 39 ALLOWS ITS BONDING ON A DESIRED ARTICLE. THE ENTIRE OPERATION IS CONTROLLED BY A 175 TRIGGER. APPLICATION TO RETAIL STORE LABELERS.

Description

The present invention relates to labellers,

as well as their subassemblies.

  U.S. Patent Nos. 2,663,444, 3,611,929, 4,092,918, 4,264,396, and 4,407,692 describe labellers. The present invention relates to a labeler

  low volume manual in which an important circuit

  so much occupies only a small space. This circuit is mounted in the enclosure of the labeler so that it is protected against damage due to shocks, for example

during a fall of the labeler.

  One or more circuit boards are

  by occupying little space between the housing and the

  sub-frame that carries selected elements of the

  Teuse. The circuit boards are placed away from the box. At least some of them are fixed

to the subframe.

  The invention also relates to a labeler

  small manual, having a housing provided with a handle

  a roll of labels carried on the stacker, pressure-adhering labels, carried by a continuous carrier sheet, a print head, a label separator, a label applicator, and a wheel for making advance the support sheet. This wheel is driven by an electric motor which, for simplicity, is preferably coaxial with the feed wheel. The electric motor is housed at least partly inside this wheel so that the occupied space is reduced. A speed reducer, driven by the electric motor, is also housed at least in part and preferably entirely within the feed wheel. It is mounted so that it can rotate and it preferably rotates with minimal friction so that the electrical energy can be saved. The wheel has an outer annular surface. A set of ball bearings bears against the outer surface and carries

  the wheel ahead so that it can turn. Three routs

  ball bearings are preferably in contact with the

  external surface at regularly distributed intervals.

  The wheel preferably has another outer annular surface remote from the first. The wheel has advance teeth placed between the outer annular surfaces. Another set of ball bearings cooperates with the other outer annular surface. The sets of ball bearings are arranged so that they delimit a circle of diameter less than that of the respective outer annular surface so that there is no clearance due to the spaces between the outer surfaces of the wheel of the ball bearings . The elastic mounting of the ball bearings safely eliminates the clearance between them and the external annular surface so well

  that the wheel of advance can turn freely with a rub-

minimal.

  The invention also relates to a labeler

  with a housing, a handle connected to the bot-

  tier, a printhead with printing elements

  which can be electrically selected, a pressure-sensitive label separating device

  of a continuous sheet of support, a label applicator

  printed paper, and a source of electrical energy placed in the handle. The housing and handle are releasably connected and the handle can be detached from the housing when excessive force is exerted on the labeler, so that the risk of damage to the labeler is minimal. The detachable form of assembly comprises a member which can flex elastically in a particular embodiment,

  and this member also carries electrical connectors.

  These provide the electrical connection between the power source and the printhead when the handle is in place, but the electrical connectors allow separation of the handle and automatically cut the electrical connection when

the handle is detached.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the print head has a plurality of thermographic printing elements cooperating with a support roller during

  the printing of characters chosen on the labels.

  The line of printing elements can be precisely aligned with the axis of the roller by means of a device according to the invention. In another particular embodiment, the print head is mounted in oversized slides. Adjustment of the alignment of the print head and the roller can be achieved by means of a setting mechanism. In a particular embodiment, two spans are formed in the support and a set screw is screwed into each scope. The rotation of the screws allows the print head to be placed in the precise alignment of the support roller and maintained in this position. The pressure exerted by the backing roll against the label backing sheet is also adjustable so that the printing

  be optimal. According to another characteristic of the invention

  The backing roll may be moved away from the printhead to allow access thereto for cleaning. The support roll can

  be moved between closed and open positions

  and can be maintained selectively in the partially open intermediate position. According to another characteristic of the invention, the print head is mounted on a first support, the latter is mounted

  on a second support placed under the first, and a third

  The second support carries the support roll and the application device, with an original arrangement. The keyboard as well as the second and the third support are mounted on a rod which also carries applicator rollers

of the applicator device.

  The invention also relates to an improved handle

  manual picker, which can be electrically selected, the handle containing a source of electrical power. It also relates to such a handle for a labeler, whose structure prevents cutting

  temporary effect of the electrical contact in the event of a shock

  beggar. It also concerns a labeler in which flexible electrical contacts are protected so

that they are not damaged.

  It also relates to such a labeler having an improved coupling between its case

and the handle.

  It also relates to an improved assembly for maintaining the label support sheet in contact with the teeth of a feed wheel, using rollers spaced at its periphery. This assembly eliminates the floating of the sheet relative to the feed device during a possible loss of tooth contact

  with slots or holes formed in the continuous sheet.

  The invention also relates to a manual labeler

  nal, having a small construction, allow-

  electrical selection and in which

  printed circuit boards are mounted elastically

  or by means of a damping cushion so that the deterioration is minimal in the event of an impact against the labeler, for example during a fall of the labeler. According to a feature of the invention, a holding member comprises a device for holding the printed circuit boards face to face and at a distance and simultaneously minimizing the disturbance disturbances. The holding member is preferably composed of an elastomeric material which flexes so that the assembly of the printed circuit boards is

  ease and which deforms elastically during the shock.

  In one embodiment of the invention, certain

  printed circuit boards are attached to

  distant parts of the labeler by

elastomeric members.

  The invention also relates to an improved lid or closure member for wrapping a roll

  Label supply. The lid is not very

  both in its closed position and in its retracted position as it rotates so that it can cover a holding member. The label roll is mounted on preferably rotating members and the cover is rotatable about the same axis as the mounting members. The lid has a curved portion that connects to two remote sidewalls. The mounting members are preferably pushed back one

  towards the other by two helical springs.

  The invention also relates to an improved assembly

  mounting a label feed wheel in a manual labeller. More specifically, the feed wheel is supported externally by rolling contact members placed in contact with at least one annular portion of the feed wheel, two rolling contact members being firmly retained to oppose the force exerted by the wheel during the advancement of the continuous sheet of label support. The two members with rolling contacts therefore constitute a reference and ensure the absence of any offset of the axis of the feed wheel during the advance of the continuous sheet. It is preferable that a third roller member is resiliently biased against the annular portion in the direction of the force application axis.

  applied by the wheel in advance and along this axis.

  Other features and advantages of the

  will be better understood when reading the description of

  FIG. 1 is an elevational view in partial section of a manual labeler according to the invention; Figure 2 is a partially exploded perspective showing some elements of the labeler;

  FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective represented

  feeling parts of the labeler; Fig. 4 is a partially exploded perspective showing how the circuit boards are mounted relative to the subframe;

  FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective representing

  both the layout of the keyboard, the display device, the print head, various media, the backup roll and the applicator device; Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the backing roll support, adjusting mechanism and applicator roll; Figure 7 is a partial section showing in detail an adjustment mechanism; Figure 8 is an enlarged elevation of a switch and the structure supporting it; Fig. 9 is a plan view of an arrangement of printed circuit boards and flat connectors prior to mounting in the housing; Figure 10 is an exploded perspective of the feed wheel; Fig. 11 is a section showing the mounting structure of the feed wheel; Figure 12 is an exploded perspective of the cabinet of the labeler and the handle with its source of electrical energy;

  FIG. 13 is a partial section representing

  the detachable coupling of the handle and the casing; Figure 14 is another partial section through a plane perpendicular to the sectional plane of Figure 13; Fig. 15 is a plan view of the mechanism for aligning the print head with respect to the axis of the backing roll and holding it in that position; Figure 16 is an exploded perspective of a portion of an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 17 is an exploded perspective view of another portion of the housing shown in part in Fig. 16;

25716-92

  Fig. 18 is an exploded perspective view of another portion of the embodiment itself partially shown in Figs. 16 and 17;

  Figure 19 is an exploded perspective

  sensing the layout of printed circuit boards;

  FIG. 20 is a sectional elevation of

  showing how the wheel of advance is mounted; Fig. 21 is a section showing how the housing sections are connected and how the printed circuit boards are mounted; Fig. 22 is a section showing the advancing and guiding structure of the support sheet;

  FIG. 23 is a sectional elevation

  showing how printed circuit boards

are mutually oriented; -

  Fig. 24 is an elevation showing how the handle is connected to the casing; and FIG. 25 is a section along the line

-25 of Figure 24.

  We first refer to FIG.

  A roll-forming roll R forming a stock of labels comprises a continuous sheet W of a temporary support of a series of pressure-bonding labels L. The housing 21 defines an internal space 23 which houses a sub-frame 24. The latter supports the roller R so that it can rotate and defines a path for the passage of the sheet W support. This last part of the roll R, passes partly around a roll 25, passes between

  a printing head 26 and a support device

  felt in the form of a roller 27, passes partly around a separation device 28 shown in the form of a peeling roller, then again partly around the support roller 27, partly around a roller 25 ', between a wheel 29 in advance and a support roll 30, opposite a spacer member 31 (FIG. 3), and in

  a channel 32 from which the sheet W leaves the label

  20. The roller 30 is mounted on a guide 31 '

(Figure 3).

  The housing 21 comprises a section 33 having several

  34 and 35. The keys 36 of an S 37 keyboard protrude through the openings 34 and a device

  38 display is visible through the opening 35.

  An applicator 39 having a series of rollers is disposed above the anterior label L

  which was almost totally separated at the level of the

separator 28.

  Note in FIG. 2 that the housing 21

  also has sections 41 and 42. These have

  tructions that are practically mirror images of each other. The sections 41 and 42 have wall or side portions 43 and 44 and parts 45 and 46

forming flanges.

  The printing head 26 is clamped or otherwise held to the lower portion of a metal support 47 to absorb heat. The support 47 has several fins 48. It is placed above a support 49. A shaft or a rod 50 of section

  non-circular is housed in holes 51 of complementary shape.

  ends and screws 52 pass through the housing sections 43 and 44 and penetrate into the end portions of the rod 50. The rollers 40 are mounted so that they can rotate on the rod 50 and the support 49 has remote arms 53 through which the rod 50 passes. Another support 54 better represented in FIGS. 5 and 6 has arms 55 through which the rod 50 also passes. The support 54 is

placed under the support 49.

  Figure 3 shows the subframe including sections 56 and 57 which are substantially in the form of mirror images of each other. The section 56 has a lateral portion 58, guide members 59, 60 and 61, an arm 62 and a bar 63. The section 57 has a lateral portion 64, guide members 65, 66 and 67 and an arm 68. The sections 56 and 57 of the subframe have holes 69 and 70 which are aligned. A mounting member with the general reference 71, formed of metal so that it can dissipate heat, has a tubular portion 72, an end wall 73 and a flange 74. The member 71 is introduced through the opening 69 and the flange 74

  is held against the outside of section 56 of the

  chassis by screws 75. The outside of the tubular part

  72 is adjusted without play in the hole 69. An electric motor

  76 is fully housed in the tubular portion 72, and preferably the speed reducer 77 is placed completely in the tubular portion 72. A shaft encoder 77 'protrudes slightly from the motor 76. Screws 78 pass through holes 79. and is screwed into the end of the gearbox 77. As shown in Figure 11, there remains a gap between the mounting member 71 and the inside of the wheel 29. The latter has two outer annular surfaces 80 and 81. Teeth 92 and 93 are arranged, with the desired design, at the outer periphery of the wheel 29 between the outer surfaces 80 and 81. Two identical holding members 83 are mounted on shafts 84 'placed on sections 56 and 57 near. openings 69 and 70. Each holding member 83 is shown with three sections 84 connected by flexible members 85 of C connection. Each section 84 of the holding member has a contact member mounting shaft 86.

  rolling, more precisely a ball bearing 87.

  As shown in Figure 11, the outer rings of the bearings 87 are in contact with the outer surface 80 at three points. Each holding member 83 is made in such a way that the circle delimited by the ball bearings 87 at the contact points is smaller than the diameter of the respective outer surface 80 or 81,

  when the holding member 83 is rough casting.

  Each member 83 can expand slightly. The connections facilitate this dilation. When mounting the holding member 83 and its ball bearings 87 on the wheel 29 in advance, the member 83 is slightly expanded and comes into position around the outer surface 80 or 81. The member 83 eliminates the clearance since there is no gap between the outer rings of the bearings 87 and the outer surfaces 80 and 81. As shown, each set of bearings 87 supports the wheel 29 in advance at three locations and, more specifically, at regular intervals of 120. The wheel 29 is mounted so that it rotates with very little friction. The opposite movement

  wheel 29 can be avoided either by the motor 76 itself.

  even by any known type of non-return device.

  Figure 10 shows the feed wheel 29 which has a base or hub 88 having axially directed dovetail cavities or grooves 69. The grooves 89 have different angular locations so

  that the orientation of rings 90 and 91 is facilitated.

  These rings have advance teeth 92 and 93 projecting outwards and which can cooperate with cutouts 94 (FIG. 3) formed for advance in the support sheet W. The rings 90 have protrusions 95, 96 and 97 protruding inwardly and corresponding to the spacing of the grooves 89. The rings 91 have projections 98, 99 and 100 which protrude inwards and which also correspond to the Groove spacing 89. As shown, the teeth 92 of the rings 90 are axially aligned and the teeth 93 of the rings 91 are axially aligned. The teeth 92 and 93 form the desired tooth pattern for the feed and correspond to the drawings of the slots formed in the sheet W shown in FIG. 3. A feed wheel 29 having a selected pattern of teeth can be made by simple arrangement. of rings having the desired arrangement of teeth. In addition, a wheel 29 can be made with any effective diameter

  wanted, corresponding to a different length of

  for example by changing the wall thickness of the rings 90 and 91. Each ring 90 and 91 is a coupling device of at least one tooth 92, 93 1 1 to the hub 88. Although the teeth 92 can to be coupled to the base 88 other than by a ring 90 or 91 in one piece, the use of such rings is preferable. It is advantageous that the hub and the rings 90 and 91 are each formed of a single piece of molded plastic. The rings 90 and 91 fit without

  clearance on hub 88 and wheel 29 is a composite assembly

  site that can be realized accurately at a low cost and that can however be built quickly with the desired design. If necessary, analogous rings may have a color corresponding to a code, and analogous rings 91 may have a different color corresponding to a code so that the storage

  elements and subsequent assembly are facilitated.

  As shown in Figure 10, each of the rings 90 and 91 has two narrow annular portions 101 of reduced diameter between which is formed an annular portion

  102 having closely spaced axial grooves 103.

  These splines 103 reduce the contact area between the outer surface of the wheel 29 and the support sheet W, as shown, the teeth 92 and 93 are on the respective annular portions 102. When the rings 90 and 91 are stacked on the hub 88, the adjacent portions 101 of reduced diameter adjacent pairs of rings 90 and 91 or 91 and 90 delimit grooves for the accommodation of fingers 104 spacing the device 31 (Figure 3). After assembly, the rings and 91 are abutting end to end. The advance wheel 29 diagrammatically shown in FIG. 3 does not have the portions 101 of reduced diameter which delimit

throats.

  The discs 105 disposed around the surfaces and 81 are mounted outside the series of rings and 91. Each disc 105 has a hole 106. The discs 105 form guides for the edge of the sheet W. Each disc 105 is placed between a shoulder 107 of the hub 88 and the respective support member 83. The discs 105 can rotate relative to the hub 88 when the wheel 29 advances the sheet W. When mounting the wheel 29, the rings 90 and 91 are axially slid on the hub 88, the discs 105 are arranged around the surfaces 80 and 81 near the shoulders 107 and against them, and the support members 83 and their ball bearings 87 are placed around the surfaces

and 81.

  Figures 5 and 15 show the support 49 which has a transverse member 108 connecting the members 53 and a transverse guide 109 having ribs 110. The members 53 have spaced slides

  111 delimited by grooves 112 and flanges 113.

  The support 47 has two flanges 114 which are housed in the slides 111. The flanges 113 hold the flanges 114 against the bottoms of the grooves 112, although the slides 111 are sufficiently wide for

  the support 47 tilts so that the printing elements

  115 linearly disposed in the head 26 of impres-

  Sion, can be aligned on the axis of the roll of support 27 of small diameter. The smaller the diameter of the backing roll, the more important this alignment becomes for quality printing. The inclination of the support

  47 and the print head 26 attached to its underside.

  The upper mechanism is shown as adjustable by a mechanism with the general reference 15. This mechanism is used when the label maker 20 is manufactured or when the print head 26 is replaced. The mechanism is shown as comprising two screws 116 of

  adjustment screwed into organs or annular bearings.

  These organs can enter the support 47 and can slightly rotate relative to it. Specifically, two adjacent fins 48 have opposed concave seats 118 for housing the members 117. The end vane 48 has oversized orifices 119 for the passage of the screws 116. The orifices 119 are large enough to allow a rotation of the members 117 which suffices for the necessary adjustment of the support 47 in the slides 111 by means of the screws. The screws 116 have annular flanges 120 held between the end vane 48 and the transverse member 108. Each screw 116 has a groove 121 for accommodating an elastic ring 122. The end of each screw 116 has a slot 123 for the passage of a screwdriver (Figure 15) so that the rotation

  individual screws 116 is facilitated.

  Figures 5 and 6 show the support 54 for mounting the support roller 27. This roller is preferably formed of a roller 124 of an elastometer material mounted on a shaft 125. The latter protrudes from the ends of the roller 124 and it is mounted in ball bearings 126. These are held by holding members 127. 128 screws pass

  through holes 129 of the support members 127 and allow

  they are slightly pivoted. The ball bearings 126 are housed in cavities 130. The support members 127 have elongated holes 131 for the passage of screws 132. The screws 128 and 132 are screwed into respective holes 133 and 134 of arms or members 55. 132 screws have the game so that they do not tighten the support members 127 against the members 55 and allow the pivoting of the organs 127. Each member 127 is pushed in the direction of clockwise (Figures 6 and 7) by a coil spring 135 of compression so well

  that the roller 124 is supported, with the appropriate pressure

  the entire length against the underside of the support sheet W, the label L above being repelled with the correct pressure

  against the printing elements 115 of the head 26.

  A tube 136 is housed in the spring 135 and a setting rod 137 is housed in the tube 136. The rod 137 has a threaded portion 138. A nut 139 can slide in

  a slot 140 and is screwed onto the threaded portion 138.

  The rod 137 also has a flange 141 and an end having a drive slot 142 by a screwdriver. The spring 135, the tube 136 and the rod 137 penetrate into a portion 143 forming a housing in the member 127 for holding. The spring 135 acts on this portion 143 by pushing the member 127 to hold in the clockwise direction (Figures 6 and 7). The spring also acts against the nut 139. The rod 137 can be rotated so that the spring force is adjusted. The individual adjustment of the rods 137 makes it possible to adjust the force exerted by the roller 124 against the printing elements 115, over the entire length

of this series of elements 115.

  The peeling roller 28 is retained in slots 144 and the shaft 125 passes through slots 145 of the members 55. The latter are connected by a transverse member 146. The roller 124 preferably has a small diameter and the printing elements 115 are as close as possible to the peeling roller 28. The percentage of label surface L that can be printed is then maximal. The roller 124 preferably has a diameter

  less than 10 mm and preferably less than 7 mm.

  The support 54 can pivot around the shaft, between the position indicated in solid lines and the position indicated in phantom lines by the reference PL in FIG. 1. The support 54 has transversely disposed members 145 and members 147 facing the above. When the members 147 are clamped between the thumb and forefinger of one hand, they slit inward and separate protrusions 149 formed within sections 41 and 42 of the housing. The organs 147

  openings 150 for housing the projections 149. When

  that the support 154 goes down to a partial opening position shown in FIG. 1 by the mixed lines PL, the projections 151 of the internal face of the members 147 catch on the projections 152 so that the support 54 can not open. completely, but the support

  54 and the roller 57 are sufficiently lowered for -

  that the support sheet W can be slid during the loading of the label maker 20. When the support 54 is in the position indicated in dotted line PL, the members 147 can be moved apart, and the support 54 can pivot towards the position of maximum opening, so that the printing elements 115 can be cleaned. As shown in FIG. 3, the label feeding roll S is mounted on a holding member 153 having sections 154 and 155 which are mirror images of each other. These sections 154 and are mounted so that they can rotate as a whole on pads 156 and 157 formed on the sections 56 and 57 of the subframe. Thus, the holding member 153 can be moved manually from the closed position shown in solid lines and an open position facilitating the cleaning of the path of the support sheet or removal of a troublesome label. The roller R is mounted on opposite projections 158 of the hub so that it can rotate, only one being shown. The sections 154 and 155 of the support member are shown as being held by a screw 159. Legs 160 protrude into curved slots 161 and limit the rotation

of the support member 153.

  Figure 9 represents in particular an arrangement

  162 of platelets 163 to 168 of printed circuit.

  The wafer 164 is placed under the wafer 163 but is electrically insulated with respect thereto, apart from the electrical connections between them. The wafer 165 is electrically connected to the wafer 164 by an electrical connector 169 in the form of a ribbon, the wafer 165 is electrically connected to the wafer 166 by a connector 170 in the form of a ribbon, the wafer 164 is also electrically connected. to the wafer 167 by a connector 171 in the form of a ribbon, and the wafer 167 is electrically connected to the wafer 168 by a connector 172 in the form of a ribbon. The display device 38 (FIG. 1)

  is electrically connected to the wafer 164 by a connection

  173, and the print head 26 is electrically connected to the wafer 164 by a ribbon-shaped connector 174. An audible device 175 is connected to the connector 174. A small battery 176 of batteries or accumulators for a circuit

  discharge detection system (not shown)

  sensée), a manual switch 175 which can be operated by the user's index when he wishes to trigger a print and dispense cycle, and a switch 176 operated by a cam are also suitably connected to the arrangement 162. Figure 4 shows the arrangement 142 with the orientation that it has in being disassembled and in exploded form. The printed circuit boards 163 to 168 comprise electronic components (not shown) electrically connected to each other so that they

  cause the actuation of the print head 26 in function

  data transmitted by the keyboard 37. The

  165, 166, 167 and 168 are all inclined relative to the plates 163 and 164 and are more precisely placed perpendicularly. The plates 165 and 166 are very close together and placed parallel and side by side, and the plates 167 and 168 are very close together and placed parallel and side by side. The pairs of plates 165 and 166 on the one hand and 167 and 168 on the other hand are held at a distance by spacers 177. Various screws 178 pass through the pairs of platelets 165 and 166, 167 and 168 of printed circuit and the are fixed directly to the subframe 24. As indicated in FIG. 13, the external printed circuit boards 166 and 168 are located at a distance from the sections 41 and 42 of the housing so that a deflection of the housing 21 does not affect platelets 163 to 168. This deflection may be the result of a fall of the labeler 20 or

  another shock given by excessive force. The sections

  41 and 42 are attached to the subframe 24 by

  suitable fixing members 179. Such a body 179

  poured the section 42 and enters the bar 181 which passes with a large clearance in enlarged holes 180 formed in the pads 165 to 168 so that the

  collapse 21 is not transmitted to the

  162. The latter is very compact, according to an important characteristic of a manual labeler which can be electrically controlled and more specifically a manual labeler 20 provided with a thermal head

of printing 26.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the switch 176 is operated by a three-lobed cam 181 integrally molded with the end wall 182 of the hub 88. As shown, this wall 182 and the cam 181 have a hole non-circular 183 corresponding to the non-circular portion of the output shaft 184 of the speed reducer. The switch 176 is mounted on a support which is held on the section 57 of the subframe and which is held in the set position by a screw 186

  passing through an elongated slot 187.

  Figures 12, 13 and 14 show the handle

  22 which is connected to the housing 21 by a separate connection

  188 which includes a 189 dovetail slot

  formed by opposing flanges 190 directed towards the interior

  and flanges 191, facing outward, of a connecting member 192. The latter is formed of an elastomeric material having a hardness chosen so that it holds the handle 22 on the casing but bends and releases the casing 21 when excessive force is applied, for example during a fall When this phenomenon occurs, the flanges 191 flex inwardly out of the slot 189 and the housing 21 and the handle 22 separate. The connection member 192 has a flat portion 193 held in housings 194 formed in

  the symmetrical sections -195 and 196 of the handle 22.

  As shown in Figures 13 and 14, contacts

  197 in the form of J are attached to a planar insulator 192 '.

  The lower portions of the J-contacts are resiliently supported by convex portions 199 of the connecting member 192. The contacts 197 provide the connection with contacts 201 of the lower portions 200 of the J parts of the contacts 201. The lower parts are supported elastically by a pad 202 of an elastic elastomeric material which is retained in a housing 203. held through a plane isolator 205. the handle 22 is fixed to the housing 21 by sliding of the handle 22 on the housing

  21 with the slit 189 and the organ 192 of

  FOR CONNECTION. The handle 22 is locked in a removable manner

  ble by a spring 206 cooperating with a lock 207.

  The spring 206 and the lock 207 can slide in a housing 208. When the handle 22 is in position

  mounted, the lock 207 is in cooperation with a shoulder

  209. A shoulder 210 is also in abutment against a stop 211. A projection 212 manually operable passes through an opening 213 so that it allows the manual release of the lock 207. The sections 195 and 196 of the handle form a cavity for housing a storage battery 215 which is connected to the contacts 197. A connector 216 is mounted on the handle 22 by a washer 217 and a nut 218. The connector 216 is also electrically connected to the battery

  accumulator 215 so that it can be recharged.

  FIG. 16 represents a housing or chassis 300 and a handle 301. The housing 300 delimits a space

  internal 302 which houses a sub-frame 303 (Figure 17).

  The housing 300 has two sections 304 and 305 which are substantially mirror images. The handle 301 comprises two sections 306 and 307 which are fixed to each other by fasteners, one of which is marked by

  Reference 308. Handle 301 houses several accumula-

  309 nickel-cadmium type. An electrical connector 310 housed in opposite cavities 311 of the sections 306 and 307 of the handle and electrical contacts 312 (FIGS. 16, 24 and 25) are connected by a flexible ribbon connector 313. The connector 310 is pushed back when

  the accumulators 309 must be recharged. Accumulations

  The contacts 312 are also suitably connected to the connector 313. The contacts 312 are mounted on a holding member 314. A coupling member 315 has a lower flange 315 'which is housed in symmetrical cavities

  316 and 317 formed in the handle sections 306 and 307.

  The organ 315 and another organ 318 cooperate in the forma-

  a coupling with the general reference 319.

  The member 314 for retaining retained in place by flanges 420 of the sections 306 and 307. The contacts 312 are mounted on the member 314 as shown more clearly in Figures 24 and 25. The contacts-312 are identical, and they each comprise a resilient and flexible finger 321, a U-shaped portion 322 connected to the resilient finger 321, and a downwardly extending portion 323 connected to the U-shaped portion 322. Each portion 323 is electrically connected to the connector 313. The upper portion 324 of the member 315 has several slots 325 aligned vertically on the contacts 312. The slots are large enough to accommodate rigid contacts 326. The coupling member 315 has remote projections 327 and 328 facing the The handle 301 is fixed to the casing 300 or coupled to it by sliding the handle 301 on the casing from the rear, using the outer casing 321 and 330 of the member 318. pairs of sai llies 327 and 328 and flanges 329 and 330 which cooperate. The handle 301 is held in the fixing position shown in FIG. 24 by a lock bearing the general reference 331 and which comprises a locking member 332 intended to be operated by a finger and a spring 333 which is housed in symmetrical cavities 334. and

  335 formed in the handle sections 306 and 307. The or-

  Gane 332 locks against stacker 300.

  When the handle 301 is moved from the separated or uncoupled position to the attachment position, the contacts 326 penetrate the slots 325 and bend the resilient fingers 321 from the dotted line position PL to the dashed position. When the handle is still slightly outside the fixing position (to the right of the position indicated in FIG. 24 relative to the housing 300), the contacts 312-come against a stop 337. The elastic fingers 321 of the contacts 312 can no longer move in one direction or the other, for example during a shock

  of the labeler 299, for example during its fall.

  The contacts 326 hold the contacts 312 against the stop 337 and this prevents the spacing of the contacts 312 from the contacts 326 and the suppression of the electrical contact. In this way, the circuit338 (Figure 19)

  can not lose information in memory by

  rupturing of the electrical connection between the accumulators

  309 and the memory 340 during a shock of the labeler 299.

  The upper part 324 allows the contacts 326 to be electrically connected to the contacts 312, but it also has the role of constituting a protective cover intended to prevent the deterioration of the contacts 312, for example when the handle 301 is separated for recharging the accumulators . The coupling member 315 can be made inexpensively because it is formed of a molded elastomer in one piece. The projections 325 and 328 and the cooperating flanges 329 and 330 have a configuration such that the handle 301 separates from the housing 300 or detaches during a shock to the labeler 299. The operation is facilitated because the

  flanges 327 and 328 elastically flex and allow

  327 and 328 protrusions to pass around the flanges

  329 and 330, even when the lock 331 is blocked.

  In place of the coupling of the member 315 directly on the two symmetrical housing sections (as shown in FIGS. 2, 12, 13 and 14), the coupling member 315 is connected to the member 318 which is itself mounted in a safe way between

  sections 304 and 305 of housing. In this way, the opera-

  Coupling is not performed at a location where the housing 300 is slit. As shown, the member 318 is fixed, for example by screws 341 which pass through holes 342 and penetrate into annular members 343 which are integral with the member 318 which is formed of a plastic material molded in one piece . Additional screws (not shown) pass through holes 342 'and enter bodies 343. Thus, sections 304 and 305 of the housing are firmly connected.

to the organ 318.

  Figure 17 shows the sub-frame 303 which includes sections 344 and 345 which are substantially mirror images of each other. The section 344 has a hole 346 axially aligned with a tubular member 347 which is integrally molded with the section 345. The tubular member 347 has an end wall (hidden in FIG. 17) which has a hole for the passage of an output shaft 348. An electric motor 349 is coupled to a speed reducer 350. The motor 349 and the gearbox 350 are attached to the end wall by screws 351 only one of which is shown. The shaft 348 of the gearbox 350 passes through the hole 346. A disk 352 having a series of graduations 353 spaced at its periphery is keyed on the end 356 of a wheel 357 advance. A screw 355 passing through an elastic washer 354 is screwed to the end 356 so as to

  that it keeps the disc 354 on the wheel of advance.

  The end 356 of the wheel 357 is keyed onto the shaft 348. A sensor 358 (FIG. 19) is housed in a cavity 359 formed in a support member 360. The disk 352 and the sensor 358 cooperate in the formation of a signal transmitted to the circuit 338 and corresponding to the position of the wheel 357. This has teeth 361 placed in a predetermined pattern so that the support sheet W (Figure 1) and the labels L it carries are put in a suitably marked position. The sensor 358 tells the circuit 338 to put in turn the labels L in the marked position of printing and in

  label application position.

  The feed wheel 357 has two remote annular portions 362 and 363. Two remote support members 364 and 365 carry sets of rolling contact members, preferably ball bearings 366. The holding members 364 and 365 have lugs 367 of positioning and holding which are housed in remote holes 368 of the sections 344 and 345 of subframe. The ball bearings 366 abut against the outer peripheries of respective annular portions 362 and 363. As best shown in FIG. 20, the support member 364 has a relatively rigid section 369 connected to a relatively flexible elastic section 370 of parts 371 mounting lugs. The lugs 367 are molded in one piece with these parts 371. In fact, the two members 364 and 365 of maintenance are identical and are formed of a plastic material molded in one piece. Lugs 372 secured to each member 364 and 365 mounting bear the ball bearings 366. Each support member 364 and 365 is molded so that, in raw form of molding, the bearing 366 mounted on the section 70 is closer of the center C of the circle that any of the bearings 366 mounted by the section 369. When the wheel 357 advance is arranged relative to the bearings 366 so that the annular portions 362 and 363 are supported by the bearings 366, elastic arms 373 and 374 then bend outwards. This arrangement eliminates any clearance between the bearings 366 and the surface

  outer peripheral ring portions 362 and 363.

  Bearings 366 mounted on the section 369 are arranged at angular intervals equal to A with respect to the central axis CL. The latter is on the axis of the force applied by the support sheet W to the wheel 357 when it advances the sheet W. The direction of this force is indicated by the arrow F. Each section 369 firmly carries the two ball bearings 366 so that they form a reference. The bearing 366, carried by each section 370, is mounted elastically. Figure 17 shows (in a slightly enlarged form) a holding member 375 for mounting two rollers 376 and 377 support. These rollers are identical and have annular grooves 378 aligned with the teeth 361 in advance so that these teeth do not come into contact with the rollers 376 and 377 when the wheel 357 rotates. The two rollers 376 and 377 have an outer portion 379 of a shaft resiliently engaged in parts 380 at C of the end of the elastic fingers 381. In the mold holding member 375, the portions 380 in C hold the rollers 376 and 377 at a distance less than the diameter of the wheel 357 advance. After assembly, the elastic arms or fingers 381 flex outwardly under the action of the wheel 357 and push the rollers 376 and 377 against this wheel 357. The centers of the rollers 376 and 377 are placed along a central axis CL1 (Figure 22) passing through the center C. Thus, these rollers exert balanced forces on the feed wheel 357, but they do not exert on it forces that should be cashed by the bearings 366. As shown, the The bearings 366 engage the outer surface of the wheel 357 at intervals of 120. The support member 375 also has a curved guide portion 382 to which the elastic fingers 381 are connected. Positioning and holding protrusions 383 (FIG. 17) protrude outside guide portion 382 and penetrate

  in slots 384 of sections 344 and 345 of the subframe.

  Several guides 385, laterally spaced, are connected to the guide portion 382. The guides 385 have upper guide members 386 (FIG. 22) spaced slightly apart from the member 387 to guide the support sheet away from the wheel 367. The sheet W first passes between the roll 376 and the wheel 357, then around it on 180, then between the roller 377 and the wheel 357 and between the guide members 386 and 387 before leaving the labeler 299. The guide member 387 has several spacer elements 388 formed in one piece with him. The sections 344 and 345 of the subframe also carry guide rollers 420 'and 420 "which

can turn.

  A roll R of labels (FIG. 22) is mounted in a holding member bearing the general reference 389 in FIG. 17. The organ 389 has substantially symmetrical sections 390 and 391. Each of them has a stud 393 placed concentrically in an annular surface 394 of span. Screws 395 passing through respective aligned members 396 for mounting are screwed into the ends of the studs 393.

  mounting can turn freely on the studs 393.

  Springs 97 surrounding the respective pads 393 push the mounting members inwardly towards each other so that the label roll R is securely held on the mounting members 396, but the springs 397 may to flex so that a new roll of labels can be introduced between the members 396. A lid or movable movable member 398 has a curved portion 399 and walls

  400 which are connected to the curved portion 399.

* The closure member 398 prevents the ingress of dust and the like and prevents unnecessary contact with the outside of the thermally coated paper whose labels L are formed. The closure member 398 and the support members 389 delimit a space 392 for the housing of the roller R. The cover 398 has two curved mounting members 401 which are housed within the bearing surfaces 394. Thus, the lid 398 can rotate from the position in which it surrounds the roller R in cooperation with the member 389, at a position in which it is recessed in the space 392, after rotation, so that the curved surface 399 is in front

  of the inner surface 402 of the holding member 389.

  In the recessed position, the roller R can be loaded onto the members 396, and the cover 398 can then be turned to its closed position. We

  considers that organ 398 is a telescopic rotary

  sting with respect to the organ 389. The lid 398 is

  held in the closed position by a double snap-on

  a step formed by protrusions 404 facing outwards and latching temporarily on the flanges 405 of the member 389. Projections 406 cooperate with projections 407 (only one is visible on the section 390) of each section 390 and 391 so that the rotation of the cover 398 is limited. The angular extent of the cover 398 is less than about 210 and preferably about 190, and is most preferably about, but the combination of the angular extent of the member 389 and the cover 398 must be 360 so that

  that the internal space is completely closed.

  A tie 408 is aligned with holes 409 (FIG. 16) of sections 304 and 305 of the casing. Unrepresented screws pass through the holes 409 and are screwed to the ends of the tie rod 408. This also passes through holes 410 of the sections 344 and 345 and holes 411 of the sections 390 and 391. A tie rod 412 is aligned with holes 413 (FIGS. 16 and 21) and holes 414. Screws 415 hold sections 304 and 305 of the housing against each other as clearly shown in FIG. 21. A tie rod 416 is aligned with holes 417 (FIG. ), 418 (Figure 17) and 419 (Figure 18). Screws (not shown) pass through the holes of the sections of the box 417 and screw

at the ends of the tie rod 416.

  Two guides 420 and 421 (FIGS. 17 and 22) guide the sheet W from the roll R. The guide

  420 engages in sections 344 and 345 of sub-sections

  chassis due to the presence of locking members 422 formed integrally with the guide 420. These bodies 422 are housed in holes 423 (only one being shown). Projections 424 are accommodated in cavities 425. Guide 421 has outwardly protruding projections which can penetrate slots 426 during penetration mounting of heads 427 through enlarged holes 428 and sliding of guide 421 to the low. The lower end of the guide 421 is held between a fixed projection 429 and a

  end 430 (FIG. 18) of a lower member 431.

  In FIG. 18, a section 432 of casing has several openings 433 for the passage of buttons 434 forming keys of a keyboard 435. Each key 434 has a conductive element 436 (FIG. 23) which comes to form a contact between a pair of remote printed conductors (not shown) of a printed circuit board 437. Each conductive element 436 is normally pushed away from the wafer 437. This carries

  also a display device 438. The pair of connectors

  Plug-in connectors 439 temporarily connect the two printed circuit boards 437 and 440. The wafer 440 and another printed circuit board 441 are temporarily connected by a pair of plug-in complementary electrical connectors 442. A holding device 443 comprises two members 444 and 445 connected by a connecting member 446. The holding device has a generally U-shaped shape and is formed of a molded elastomer. The members 444 and 445 have vertically spaced grooves 447 and 448 intended to house

  lateral marginal parts of the plates corresponding to

  440 and 441 printed circuit boards. The member 446 elastically connects the members 444 and 445. Each of these is connected to a corresponding flange 448 by a hinge 449. Screws 450 pass through holes 451 of the flanges 448 and in cutouts 452 of the circuit board 437. printed, and they screw into the housing section 432. The holding member 443 is thus suspended from the section 432 so that the members 444 and 445 can slightly bend during an impact, with respect to the joints 449 and relative to the connector 446. The printed circuit board 437 is rejected against the housing section 432 and the plates 440 and 441 are elastically mounted or shock-damped, on the members 444 and 445. The elastic mounting of the plates 440 and 441 facilitates the connection of the connectors 439 and 442 despite the differences due to manufacture . The housing section 432 has U-shaped members 453 (FIGS. 18 and 21) mounted firmly on the tie rod 412, so that they are mounted astride the sub-frame 303, being in contact with it and without leaving play. A tie rod 455 is aligned with holes 456 (FIG. 16) and passes through holes 457 of a print head mounting member 458 and through holes 459 of the housing portion 432. The tie rod 455 also passes through holes 460 of the member 431 and wheels 461 of an applicator roll bearing the reference

General 462.

  FIG. 19 shows the printed circuit boards 437, 440 and 441 with the boards 463

  and 464 of circuit board which form the circuit 338.

  The wafers 441 and 463 are temporarily connected by plug-in connectors 465 and the wafers 440 and 464 are temporarily connected by plug-in connectors 466. An RC ribbon-shaped connector electrically connects the contacts 326, the wafer 464, a switch 467 which is Normally maneuvered whenever a printing and distribution of a label are desired, a switch 468 by any

or nothing and the sensor 358.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the printed circuit board 463 is placed between the housing section 304 and the section 344 of the sub-frame 303 and the plate 464 is placed between the section 305 of the housing and the section 345 of the sub-chassis. 303. A washer or sleeve 469 formed of a molded elastomeric material, is housed in a hole 470 of the plates 463 and 464 and in a cavity of the members 453. The outer face of each sleeve 469 has a pair of opposed projections 471 allowing engagement of the sleeve 469 on the respective wafer 463 or 464. Two shoulders 472 hold the sleeve 469 on the respective wafer 463 and 464. In FIG. 17, each subframe section 344 and 345 has a tapped projection 473 for mounting a molded support 474 formed of an elastomeric material. A screw 475 fixes each support 474 to the corresponding projections 473. The supports 474 are identical and each has a U or slot 476 for housing an edge 477 of the corresponding wafer 463, 464. A screw 478 penetrates a protrusion 479 ' passing through a hole 479 of each wafer 463 and 464. The screws 478 separate the projections 479 'so that the holes 479 are filled and the wafers 463 and 464 are mounted elastically in the members 444 and

  445 of support, and they are screwed into the elastic organ

  444 (FIG. 23) has a slot 480 for the passage of the electrical connections 465, and the member 445 (FIGS. 19 and 23) has a slot 481 for the passage of the electrical connectors 466. It thus appears that the plates 463 and 464 are mounted on the holding member 443, on the sleeves 469 and on the supports 474 in a manner that

damped.

  Referring to Figure 18; the head of impres-

  26 which is on the underside of the support 482 is connected to the printed circuit board by a plug-in end portion 483 of a ribbon-shaped connector 483. The position of the support 482 and consequently of the print head 26 can be adjusted by threaded blocks 486. Screws 487 adjust the position of the support 482 with respect to the member 458 of the

mounting the print head.

  A backing roll 488 has ends 489 mounted in ball bearings 490 housed in cavities 491 formed in mounting members 492. The latter can pivot on aligned studs 493 passing through holes 494. Screws 495 hold members 492 on studs 493. Leaf springs 496 are housed in corresponding cavities 497 (only one shown) formed in members 492. and bear against aligned studs 498 (only one being shown). A separating member in the form of a peeling roll 499 is mounted in notches

  aligned 500 so that it can rotate.

  The lower member 431 can pivot downwardly around the tie rod 455. This member 431 is retained in the normal working position by teeth 511 normally placed on upper faces of guides 502. Two actuating members 501 are mounted on the 458 mounting member of the print head. Two guides 502 carry the member 501. These actuators 501 comprise elastic arms 503 which push the members 501 maneuvering outwards. Each member 501 has a projection 504 aligned with a shoe 505 placed at the free end of a leaf spring 506. Each spring 506 is cantilevered to a respective member 507 protruding outwardly on the member 431. A button 508 protrudes outwardly through the slot 509. When the buttons 508 are depressed simultaneously

  towards the inside, the projections 504 are pushed back simultaneously

  The member 431 can then be pulled downwards by grasping members 501 intended to be retained by the members 501, thereby causing the leaf springs 506 to bend inwardly. fingers. The pad 505 clings to the flange 512. The labeler 299 can then be loaded because the backup roll 499 is then remote from the print head 26. When the lower organ

  431 must be further lowered to a position of openness

  total, for example when the print head 26 is to be cleaned, the buttons 508 are pushed inward with greater force and the face

  bottom of the shoe 505 clings to the flange 512.

  The lower member 431 can then rotate by at least. When the lower member 431 has been lowered, the transverse portion 430 of the guide 421 can be flexed manually (moved to the left in FIG. 22) away from the tab 429. The guide 421 can then

  to be slid down so that it gives access to

so much cleaning.

  Of course, various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to the devices which have just been described as examples only.

  non-limiting without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (13)

  A manual labeling machine for printing and applying pressure-adhering labels, temporarily retained on a carrier sheet, of the type which comprises a housing (21, 300) having a handle (22, 301) to be grasped by hand and to contain a source (215, 309) of electrical energy, a device (319) for temporarily coupling the handle and the housing, the handle being intended to be placed in a fixing position on the housing or in a detached position in the handle is separated from the housing, a printing device comprising an electrically selectable print head (26) and having a plurality of printing elements, a device (28) for separating the printed labels, a device ( 39) for applying the printed labels, a device for feeding the continuous sheet of support, a device delimiting a guide path of the continuous sheet towards the device. printing device, the separating device and the feeding device, characterized in that the coupling device (319) comprises an electrical contact device (318) mounted on the housing, a device forming electrical contacts (314). ) mounted on the handle and intended to cooperate with the housing contacts, in the fixing position, one of the contact devices comprising a first flexible and elastic contact member (312) while the other contact device comprises a second contact member (326), a protective cover (324) for the first contact member (312) for protecting the contact member against damage, and a slot opening (325) formed in the cover (324) and whereby the second contact member (326) passes and comes into contact with the first contact member (312) in the attachment position of the handle and the first contact member comprising a finger   elastic (312) aligned with the slot (325).   A manual labeling machine for printing and applying pressure-adhering labels, temporarily retained on a continuous carrier sheet, of the type that includes a housing (21, 300) having a handle (22, 301) to be gripped by hand and contain a source (215, 309) of electrical energy, a device (319) for temporarily coupling the handle and the housing, the handle being intended to be placed in the fixing position on the casing or detached position wherein the handle is separated from the housing, a printing device comprising an electrically selectable print head (26) and having a plurality of printing elements, a device (28) for separating the printed labels, a device (39) for applying the printed labels, a device for feeding the continuous sheet of support, a device delimiting a guide path of the continuous sheet towards the device of i the separating device and the feed device, characterized in that the coupling device (319) comprises a first coupling member (315) on the handle, and a second coupling member (318) on the housing coupled with the first coupling member (315) in the attachment position, an electrical contact device (314) on the handle near the first coupling member (315), an electrical contact device on the housing near the second coupling member (318), wherein one of the contact devices comprises a flexible and resilient contact member (312), and one of the coupling members includes a protective cover (324) for cover the contact member (312) to   to avoid deterioration in the detachment position.   3. Manual labeling machine for printing and applying pressure-adhering labels, temporarily retained on a carrier sheet, of the type which comprises a casing (21), a handle (22) intended to be held by hand and connected to the casing, a label printing device comprising an electrically selectable print head (26) having a plurality of printing elements, a printed label separating device (28), a label application device printed, a device (29) for advancing the continuous sheet of support, a device defining a guide path of the web continues from the roll (R) of labels to the printing device, the separation device and the feed device, characterized in that the handle (22) comprises a device for accommodating the source (215) of electrical energy for supplying the print head, and a device (192) providing a separable connection providing temporary cooperation of the handle and the housing so that the handle (22) can be separated from the housing (21) when excessive force is applied to the labeler, so that the risk of   deterioration of this is minimal.   Labeling machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the separable connection comprises a generally dovetailed slot (189, 325) and a pair of flexible members (192, 321) engaged in the slot (189, 325). but which are likely to flex to disengage when a force   excessive is applied to the labeler.   Labeling machine according to claim 3, characterized in that   that the separable connection comprises an elastic member (192, 321).   6. Labeling machine according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises circuits comprising electrical connectors (216, 310) temporarily relays the source of electrical energy (215, 309) to the print head ( 26), and wherein at least one of the electrical connectors (216, 310)   is mounted on the elastic member (192, 321).   7. A manual labeler for printing and applying pressure-adhering labels temporarily retained on a continuous carrier sheet of the type which includes a housing (300) having a handle (301), a roller mounting device (R) label stock on the housing, a label printing device comprising a thermographic printing head (26), a printed label separating device (499), a device (462) for application of printed labels, a device (357) for advancing the continuous sheet of support, a device defining a path for guiding the sheet from the label roll to the printing device, the separating device and the feed device, characterized in that it further comprises a cover for protecting the label roll, the cover comprising first and second members, the first member (390, 391) being fixed to the housing and the wherein the member (398) is mounted so that it can rotate between an open position in which the second member (398) is substantially in overlap position relative to the first member, and a closed position in which the second member ( 398) and the first member (390, 391) surround the label roll, the second member comprising a curved portion (399) and two remote walls (400). connected by the curved part.   Labeling machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the device for mounting a label stock roll (R) comprises a pair of mounting members (396), and a device coaxial with the mounting members ( 396) for holding the rotatable cover (398) on the holding member (390, 391). 9. Labeling machine according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a device (406, 407) intended to limit the rotating said lid (398).   Labeling machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the device for mounting a label stock roll (R) comprises a pair of rotatable mounting members (396), said mounting members (396) and said cover (398) being mounted on the same axis.   Labeling machine according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises helical springs (397) intended to compress the mounting members (396) against each other, these springs (397) being able to flex so that a new label roll can be inserted between the mounting elements (396).   Labeling machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the angular extent of the cover (398) is less than 2100.   13. Labeling machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the angular extent of the cover (398) is less than.