GB1577596A - Ink roller assembly for label printing and applying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

This machine comprises a frame for inking rollers (10) in the form of a U intended to hold the rotary inking rollers (16, 18), and means for removably fastening this frame (10) in a support piece (20) in the form of a U. This support piece (20) is connected to the drive part which moves the inking rollers (16, 18) over the characters (6); a pair of grippable buttons or protuberances (13) is fastened in a pivoting manner to the frame (10) so as to be raisable in order to provide a grippable hold and to enable the frame (10) to be fastened to and removed from the support piece (20). In the lowered position, they stay in place in the frame (10) in order to prevent these buttons or protuberances (13) from interfering with the frame (10) being set in motion; these buttons or protuberances (13) are locked in their lowered position. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) INK ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR LABEL PRINTING AND APPLYING MACHINE (71) We, KABUSHIKI KAISHA SATO KENKYUSHO, a Japanese Company of 21-23, 3-chome, Kamikitazawa, Setagayaku, Tokyo, Japan do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a label printing and applying machine, and more particularly to an ink roller assembly for use with the label printing and applying machine, in which the ink roller assembly is accommodated or housed.

In the conventional ink roller assembly of such kind, a lever member, in which a coil spring is mounted, is removably attached to a rocking lever which in turn is attached to the leading end of an ink supply device.

Although the lever member protrudes from the leading end of the ink roller assembly, there arises no trouble if it is used with a label printing and applying machine of the so-called "protruding type", in which the ink roller protrudes from the machine front after it turns on the type surface of a printing device to supply the same with ink.

In case, however, the lever member of that type is used with a label printing and applying machine of the so-called "accommodated or housed type", in which the ink roller is moved back and forth but with the space defined by the machine itself, the lever member abuts against the platen at the bottom of the machine so that it cannot move inwardly of that space.

With these circumstances taken into consideration, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an ink roller assembly for use with a label printing and applying machine of the accommodated type, which can be moved back and forth inwardly into the space of the machine without such interference as might otherwise come from its lever.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink roller assembly of the above type, which can facilitate replacement of its ink roller.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an ink roller assembly of the above type, which can be reliably retained in the support member of the link mechanism of an ink supply device while being smoothly attached thereto and removed therefrom.

According to a major feature of the present invention, there is provided an ink roller assembly for use with a label printing and applying machine including a printing device having a type surface, an ink roller, an ink supply device for turning the ink roller on the type surface of the printing device to supply the same with ink, and a platen, onto which a label is fed, said printing device being made movable toward the platen to bring its type surface into abutment engagement with the label on the platen so as to print the same with the information on the type surface thereby to allow the printed label to be applied to a commodity, said label printing and applying machine being of the type, in which said ink roller is made movable back and forth but within the space defined by said machine itself, an ink roller assembly comprising: an ink roller frame holding the ink roller in a rotatable manner; attaching means for removably attaching the ink roller frame to a support member which in turn is attached to the leading end of the ink supply device; a pair of openable levers hinged to the ink roller frame so that they may be raised, when the ink roller frame is to be attached to and removed from the support member, and so that they may be brought down when the ink supply operation is to be accomplished; locking means for locking the levers in their lowered positions; and retaining means for retaining said levers in the support member.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the general construction of a label printing and applying machine equipped with the ink roller assembly according to the present invention with the side wall of this side being removed; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing both the ink roller assembly of the present invention and a support member of the link mechanism of the ink supply device; Fig. 3 is a partially cut-away top plan view showing the structure, in which the ink roller assembly is assembled with the support member; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation showing the operating conditions of the ink supply device, to which the ink roller assembly according to the present invention is attached, and the printing operations of the label printing and applying machine, in which the ink roller assembly is accommodated.

The present invention will now be described in connection with its embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. The ink roller assembly A according to the present invention is attached, when used, to an ink supply device B of housed type, which is equipped with a link mechanism and which is mounted in such a label printing and applying machine as is shown in Fig. 1.

In the general construction of the label printing and applying machine, a grip 1 is made integral with a pair of side walls 8. To this grip 1 is substantially juxtaposed a hand lever 2 which is made swingable, when manually squeezed, about a pivot shaft 3 but is biased apart from the grip 1 by the action of a return spring 7.

The hand lever 2 thus constructed has its front portion bifurcated to form a pair of yokes 4, to the leading front ends of which is fixed a printing device 5 having its bottom formed with one or more type surfaces 6.

The link mechanism for the ink supply device B is of paired multi-articulated type and has three fixed support points, i.e. two pivot shafts 30 and 31 pivotally supported in the yokes 4 and a pivot shaft 32 mounted in the side walls 8.

To the leading ends of the link machanism thus constructed, there is attached a support member 20, to which is removably attached an ink roller frame 10 of the ink roller assembly A.

As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, more specifically, the ink roller frame 10 is formed into a U-shaped cross-section, in which a main ink roller 16 of a larger diameter and an auxiliary ink roller 18 of a smaller diameter, both being impregnated with ink, are rotatably mounted such that their respective roller shafts 17 and 19 are supported at the side walls 11 d of the ink roller frame 10. These side walls lid are formed with engagement grooves 12 which are made to extend in the longitudinal direction thereof. These engagement grooves 12 are made engageable with the corresponding engagement projections 21 formed in the both side walls of the support member 20.

As better seen from Figs. 2 and 3, a pair of openable knobs 13 are attached to the bridge wall 11 a of the ink roller frame 10.

These levers 13 are made of a flexible material such as a synthetic resin and are formed at their feet with eccentric portions 1 3a which are shaped to rise in their folding direction. The levers 13 are further formed at their leading ends with retaining projections 1 3b which are bent and reduced.

These eccentric foot portions 13a are made openable or foldable by means of pivot pins 14, which are mounted to a pair of attachment portions 15 protruding from the bridge wall 11a of the ink roller frame 10. Moreover, the eccentric foot portions 13 are made engageable with a recess 1 1b, which is formed in the bridge wall 11 a of the ink roller frame 10 and which in turn is formed with retaining ends 1 1c.

Those retaining projections 13b are sized and shaped to be snapped in the retaining notches 23a, which are formed in a pair of guide members 23 mounted to the support member 20 at the link mechanism.

When it is intended to attach and retain the ink roller assembly A thus constructed to and in the support member 20 at the link mechanism of the ink supply device B, the paired levers 13 are raised inwardly to join each other into their upright positions, as shown in Fig. 2. Then, the upright levers 13 thus integrated are manually pinched so that the engagement grooves 12 of the ink roller frame 10 may receive the engagement projections 21 of the support member 20, thus finishing the attaching operation of the ink roller frame 10 to the support member 20 in a remarkably smooth fashion. After that, the paired levers 13 are brought down outwardly into their lowered positions, as shown in Fig. 3, so that their retaining projections 13b may be snapped for retention into the retaining notches 23a at the guide members 23 of the support member 20 with the aid of the flexibility of the levers 13 themselves.

While the levers 13 are falling down, moreover, their eccentric foot portions 13a are turned about their respective pivot pins 14 passing over the retaining ends 11 c of the frame 10 until they are snapped into engagement with the recess 11b. Thus, the respective levers 13 can be locked in their lowered flat positions.

In case the ink in the ink rollers is exhausted to thin the print on the label or in case the ink rollers themselves become unsuitable for further use due to wear, the ink roller assembly A as a whole is removed from the support member 20 of the link mechanism of the ink supply device B and is replaced by another assembly equipped with new ink rollers. During these removing operations, the opposite procedures to those of the attaching operations can be followed.

That is to say, the paired levers 13 at the ink roller frame 10 are released from the retaining notches 23a of the guide members 23 and then are turned into their raised positions so that they may permit extraction of the ink roller frame 10.

The attachment and removal (i.e.

replacement) of the ink roller assembly A is accomplished under the stationary condition of Fig. 1, in which the support member of the link mechanism of the ink supply device B is in its protruding position at the foremost end of the label printing and applying machine.

At the both side walls of the support member 20, on the other hand, there are formed a pair of pivot pins 22 which are pivotally supported in connecting links 26 of the link mechanism of Fig. 1, the aforementioned paired guide members 23 which are brought into abutment engagement with the (not-shown) rollers located at the inside of guide links 43, and a pair of retaining holes 25 for springs 24 which are mounted on the respective pivot pins 22.

Description will now be made on the ink supply operations of the label printing and applying machine. In case the ink roller assembly A is located in a substantially upright position and in a stationary condition at a front portion of the label printing and applying machine, as shown in Fig. 1, the hand lever 2 is gripped or squeezed to its full stroke. Then, the ink roller assembly A passes over a platen 33 to apply ink to the type surfaces 6 of the printing device 5 until it is inverted and accommodated in the inside of the label printing and applying machine, as seen from Fig. 5. In this meanwhile, the type surfaces 6 of the printing device 5 are brought into abutment engagement with the platen 33 to print a coming label 27 with the desired information.

When, more specifically, the hand lever 2 is griped slightly (e.g. by an angle of 3 degrees), the yokes 4 are turned correspondingly slightly in the counterclockwise (or downward) direction, as viewed in Fig.

1, about the pivot shaft 3.

As a result, the multi-articulated link mechanism of the ink supply device B attached to those yokes 4 are dislocated such that the lifting portions 37 of its rocking links 36 are brought into abutment engagement with the abutment pins 35 of opening links 34 of the same. Since, more specifically, the pivot shafts 30 and 31 supported pivotally on the yokes 4 are moved downward, a pair of operating links 38 supported pivotally on the side walls 8 of the label printing and applying machine are moved rightwardly at their movable pins 39 and substantially upward at their movable pins 40. At the same time, the rocking links 36 are turned counterclockwise about the pivot shaft 31.

More specifically, the rocking links 36 are made to slide rightwardly by guiding the pivot pins 22 for the support member 20 and the ink roller frame 10 in the horizontal slots 44 of the guide links 43 while keeping the pivot pins 22 pushed to the upper ends of the vertical slots 41 of the rocking links 36 by the action of the springs 24. During this sliding operation, the main ink roller 16 turns on the type surfaces 6 of the printing device 5, while being elastically held, thus effecting the desired ink application.

Simultaneously with the ink application of the first stage, the rocking links 36 are turned counterclockwise about the pivot shafts 31. As a result, the lifting portions 37 at the ends of the rocking links 36 are brought into abutment against the abutment pins 35 of the opening links 34 which are in engagement with the other opening links 45.

Then, the abutment impact of the lifting portions 37 upon the abutment pins 35 overcomes the actions of springs 46, thus further rocking the opening links 34 in the clockwise direction. As a result, the retaining projections of the opening links 34 are disengaged from the other opening links 45 so that the both links 34 and 45 are brought into their released (or lifted) conditions. In this meanwhile, more specifically, the opening links 34 are rocked clockwise about the pivot shafts 30 while the other opening links 45 counterclockwise about the movable pins 47. In accordance with these sequential operations, the auxiliary ink roller 18 applies ink to the type surfaces 6. In this meanwhile, the ink roller assembly A with the ink rollers 16 and 18 passes over the platen 33 which is located below the printing device 5.

Upon completion of the ink application of the second stage, the pivot pins 22 of the ink rollers are in abutment engagement with the rearmost ends of the horizontal slots 44 of the guide links 43.

If, under this condition, the hand lever 2 is further gripped, the guide links 43 and the rocking links 36 are rocked counterclock wise and the respective movable pins are moved until the ink rollers are accommodated or housed in a center portion of the space defined by the side walls 8 of the label printing and applying machine. More specifically, the ink roller frame 10 with the two ink rollers 16 and 18 is stored in its inverted position inside of that machine at the back of the printing device 5. Then, the regulating projections 48 formed on the opening links 34 abut against the dislocated connecting links 49 to stop the motions of the respective links.Incidentally, the link mechanism thus dislocated restores its stationary condition of Fig. 1 upon release of the hand lever 2 after the printing device 5 has accomplished its printing operation upon the label 27 delivered onto the platen 33.

As has been described hereinbefore, the ink roller assembly according to the present.

invention is equipped with an ink roller frame which is removably attached to such a support member as is attached to the leading end of the link mechanism of an ink supply device. A pair of foldable levers of a flexible material are attached to the ink roller frame and formed with retaining projections at their leading ends. The support member of the link mechanism is formed with retaining notches, in which the retaining projections can be snapped for the retaining purpose.

It should therefore be appreciated as an advantage of the present invention that the ink roller assembly can be feasibly and reliably retained in the support member of the link mechanism of the support member. It should also be appreciated as another advantage that the replacement of the ink roller assembly can be accomplished in a remarkably smooth manner without requiring for such unnecessary pushing and extracting forces as might otherwise be unavoided, while preventing the fingers of an operator from being stained with ink.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. In a label printing and applying machine including a printing device having a type surface, an ink roller, an ink supply device for turning said ink roller on the type surface of said printing device to supply the same with ink, and a platen, onto which a label is fed, said printing device being made movable toward said platen to bring its type surface into abutment engagement with the label on the platen so as to print the same with the information on said type surface thereby to allow the printed label to be applied to a commodity, said label printing and applying machine being of the type, in which said ink roller is made movable back and forth but within the space defined by said machine itself, an ink roller assembly comprising: an ink roller frame holding said ink roller in a rotatable manner; attaching means for removably attaching said ink roller frame to a support member which in turn is attached to the leading end of said ink supply device; a pair of openable levers hinged to said ink roller frame so that they may be raised, when said ink roller frame is to be attached to and removed from said support member, and so that they may be brought down when the ink supply operation is to be accomplished; locking means for locking said levers in their lowered positions; and retaining means for retaining said levers in said support member.

2. An ink roller assembly according to claim 1, further comprising guide means including a pair of guide members mounted to the both side walls of said support member; said retaining means including a pair of retaining notches formed in said guide members, and a pair of retaining pro Jections formed on the leading ends of said levers and sized and shaped to be snapped in said retaining notches.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. wise and the respective movable pins are moved until the ink rollers are accommodated or housed in a center portion of the space defined by the side walls 8 of the label printing and applying machine. More specifically, the ink roller frame 10 with the two ink rollers 16 and 18 is stored in its inverted position inside of that machine at the back of the printing device 5. Then, the regulating projections 48 formed on the opening links 34 abut against the dislocated connecting links 49 to stop the motions of the respective links. Incidentally, the link mechanism thus dislocated restores its stationary condition of Fig. 1 upon release of the hand lever 2 after the printing device 5 has accomplished its printing operation upon the label 27 delivered onto the platen 33. As has been described hereinbefore, the ink roller assembly according to the present. invention is equipped with an ink roller frame which is removably attached to such a support member as is attached to the leading end of the link mechanism of an ink supply device. A pair of foldable levers of a flexible material are attached to the ink roller frame and formed with retaining projections at their leading ends. The support member of the link mechanism is formed with retaining notches, in which the retaining projections can be snapped for the retaining purpose. It should therefore be appreciated as an advantage of the present invention that the ink roller assembly can be feasibly and reliably retained in the support member of the link mechanism of the support member. It should also be appreciated as another advantage that the replacement of the ink roller assembly can be accomplished in a remarkably smooth manner without requiring for such unnecessary pushing and extracting forces as might otherwise be unavoided, while preventing the fingers of an operator from being stained with ink. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. In a label printing and applying machine including a printing device having a type surface, an ink roller, an ink supply device for turning said ink roller on the type surface of said printing device to supply the same with ink, and a platen, onto which a label is fed, said printing device being made movable toward said platen to bring its type surface into abutment engagement with the label on the platen so as to print the same with the information on said type surface thereby to allow the printed label to be applied to a commodity, said label printing and applying machine being of the type, in which said ink roller is made movable back and forth but within the space defined by said machine itself, an ink roller assembly comprising: an ink roller frame holding said ink roller in a rotatable manner; attaching means for removably attaching said ink roller frame to a support member which in turn is attached to the leading end of said ink supply device; a pair of openable levers hinged to said ink roller frame so that they may be raised, when said ink roller frame is to be attached to and removed from said support member, and so that they may be brought down when the ink supply operation is to be accomplished; locking means for locking said levers in their lowered positions; and retaining means for retaining said levers in said support member.

2. An ink roller assembly according to claim 1, further comprising guide means including a pair of guide members mounted to the both side walls of said support member; said retaining means including a pair of retaining notches formed in said guide members, and a pair of retaining pro Jections formed on the leading ends of said levers and sized and shaped to be snapped in said retaining notches.