GB2466334A

GB2466334A - Width regulation in label printers

Info

Publication number: GB2466334A
Application number: GB0918295A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shintaro Nishizaka
Original assignee: Sato Corp; Sato Knowledge and Intellectual Property Institute Co Ltd
Current assignee: Sato Corp; Sato Knowledge and Intellectual Property Institute Co Ltd
Priority date: 2008-12-16
Filing date: 2009-10-19
Publication date: 2010-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 2029-10-19
Also published as: JP5390176B2; GB0918295D0; GB2466334B; JP2010143588A

Abstract

A label printer (fig. 1) can be used with label strip (C) rolls of different widths, by employment of a detachable width guide member 29. A variety of different internal width (W) members 29 can be provided to guide different widths of label strip (C) through the label printer. The label printer may be a handheld device, similar to a price tag printer, with a spring biased handle arrangement, which can print on and dispense labels (fig. 1).

Description

DESCRIPTION

LABEL GUIDE MECHANISM AND WIDTH GUIDE MEMBER OF LABEL

APPLICATION DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

[00011 The present invention relates to a label guide mechanism and a guide member of a label application device. In particular, for a label guide mechanism and a guide member for a label application device which transfers a continuous label strip with plural label pieces temporarily attached on a strip-form backing sheet, and is able to replace the label guide mechanism or the guide member according to the width of the continuous label strip.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In the conventional label application device, a continuous label strip is paid out from the label supply to the transfer route and transferred at a predefiried pitch in the device body housing. If necessary, price and other predetermined information is printed (stamped) on the label piece and the label piece is separated from the backing sheet, enabling application to the predetermined articles, etc. At transfer of the continuous label strip and separation of the label piece mentioned above, generally, a continuous label strip or a backing sheet is engaged to the rotatable transfer wheel, and by the operation of the operation lever, the transfer wheel is rotated and stopped by each pitch of the label. The continuous label strip is thereby sequentially transferred to the downstream direction, turning only the backing sheet at the turning pin, etc. and separating the forwarded label piece from the backing sheet.

[0003] So the each continuous label strip has different width in accordance with its intended use, etc. In the conventional label application device, by providing a width regulating mechanism or a width guide mechanism, meandering of the continuous label strip is prevented and the displacement of the printing can be avoided. However, since it is a mechanism corresponding to the continuous label strip with a single width, in case of the use by loading continuous label strips with different width, it is necessary to manufacture a label application device which is provided with width regulating mechanism or width guide mechanism corresponding to the respective label width, which causes a problem leading to production cost increase.

[0004] So there is provided a label application device with a detachable (hereinafter meaning "attachable to and detachable from" in the present invention and in the description of the present invention) width regulating member (width guide member), which regulates the continuous label strip in accordance with the width of the continuous label strip.

However, since the width of the device body housing of the label application device is fixed, by the width of the continuous label strip and the configuration of the width regulating member, particularly in case of loading a continuous label strip with comparatively wide width, the thickness of a part of the width regulating member itself may be insufficient, and there will be a problem of not being able to ensure its mechanical strength.

[0005] In addition, in case the continuous label strip has an unique shape, for example, a continuous label strip with both ends having a convexo-concave shape, it is required to width regulate the portion of the label with larger in width.

Therefore, compared to a commonly-used continuous label strip provided with non-convexo-concave shape straight ends, a width regulation will be necessary along the transferring direction of the continuous label strip, regulating the width with a predetermined length or more. However, if the above-mentioned width regulating member (width guide member) is longer in the transferring direction, particularly in case it is provided with a configuration having thinner portions in thickness, the mechanical strength is likely to decrease even more, and there will be a problem that the entire width guide member curvature will easily occur.

[0006] Patent Document 1: United States Patent No.5655450

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem [0007] The present invention has been achieved in view of the above-mentioned problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a label guide mechanism and a width guide member of a label application device of which the guide mechanism and the width guide member are changeable according to the width of the continuous label strip.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a label guide mechanism and a width guide member of a label application device which can regulate the width and easily switch the guide function when loading a continuous label strip with different width.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a label guide mechanism and a width guide member of a label application device which can load continuous label strips having several width types, even if it is a single device body housing.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a label guide mechanism and a width guide member of a label application device which can ensure a necessary mechanical strength of the width guide member.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a label guide mechanism and a width guide member of a label application device which enables the width guide member to acquire necessary width regulating function and mechanical strength even in case of a continuous label strip with both ends having a convexo-concave shape.

Solution to Problem [0012] In other words, the present invention is focused on providing a label guide mechanism or a width guide member on a platen of which a continuous label strip passes through over its upper surface transferred by a transfer wheel, particularly, for example, to provide a width guide member for plural continuous label strips width which enables to regulate the width direction of the strips to be detachable to the platen, and to ensure mechanical strength by forming a folding portion extending in a width direction on the width guide member. The first invention is a label guide mechanism for a label application device having: a device body housing; an operation lever operable on the device body housing; a transfer wheel engaged to a strip shaped backing sheet of a continuous label strip with plural label pieces temporally attached to the strip shaped backing sheet, and able to transfer the continuous label strip in downstream direction with gripping and releasing of the operation lever; a platen of which on the upper surface the continuous label strip passes through with the transfer of the label by the transfer wheel; and a separating mechanism wherein only the backing sheet is turned to the under surface side of the platen with the transfer of the continuous label strip inside the device body housing, separating the label piece from the backing sheet and enabling application to an article, wherein a label guide mechanism is able to regulate the width direction of plural continuous label strip width; characterized in that the label guide mechanism for the label application device having: a width guide member detachable from the platen from the under surface side of the platen and also changeable according to the width of the continuous label strip; the width guide member having: a base portion extending along the width direction at the under surface of the platen; a pair of right and left width regulating portions extending from both ends of the base portion to the upper surface side of the platen; and a pair of right and left knob portions extending to the opposite side of the width regulating portion from both ends of the base portion; wherein the knob portion is integrally formed with a folding portion having a predetermined width and length extending planar along the under surface of the platen.

[0013] The second invention is a width regulating member detachable from the platen of the label application device, the label application device having: a device body housing; an operation lever operable on the device body housing; a transfer wheel engaged to a strip shaped backing sheet of a continuous label strip with plural label pieces temporally attached to the strip shaped backing sheet, and able to transfer the continuous label strip in downstream direction with gripping and releasing of the operation lever; a platen of which on the upper surface the continuous label strip passes through with the transfer of the label by the transfer wheel; a separating mechanism wherein only the backing sheet is turned to the under surface side of the platen with the transfer of the continuous label strip inside the device body housing, separating the label piece from the backing sheet and enabling application to an article; and a label guide mechanism which is able to regulate a width direction of plural continuous label strip width; characterized in that the width guide member is detachable from the platen from the under surface side of the platen arid having: a base portion extending along the width direction at the under surface of the platen; a pair of right and left width regulating portions extending from both ends of the base portion to the upper surface side of the platen able to regulate the width direction of the continuous label strip; and a pair of right and left knob portions extending to the opposite side of the width regulating portion from both ends of the base portion; wherein the knob portion is integrally formed with a folding portion having a predetermined width and length extending planar along the under surface of the platen.

[0014] The folding portion can be extended in a direction at right angle to the knob portion.

[0015] The folding portion can be formed in a region different from a jointing region of the knob portion with the base portion.

[0016] The plural folding portions can be formed at the knob portion and formed in a length direction of the knob portion leaving non-formed portions between each portions.

[0017] The folding portion can be provided with an inward protruded folding portion extending from the knob portion to the platen side, and an outward protruded folding portion extending from the knob portion to the outward side of the platen.

[0018] The pair of right and left knob portions can respectively be provided with a pair of auxiliary extended portions extending to upstream and downstream of the knobs along the transfer direction of the backing sheet.

Advantageous Effects of Invention [0019] In the label guide mechanism and the width guide member of the label application device of the present invention, a detachable label guide mechanism or a width guide member according to the width is provided on the platen, on which, transferred by a transfer wheel, the continuous label strip passes through over the upper surface. Because of this, even if continuous label strips with several width types are loaded, it is possible to properly guide the labels, enabling the use of one label application device for several types of continuous label strips.

Particularly, even the widths of the continuous label strips are different, for example, and is necessary to widen the width thereby the thickness of the width regulating portion or the knob portion of the width guide member becomes thinner, by forming a folding portion extending in a width direction at the knob portion of the width guide member, it is possible to ensure mechanical strength of the entire width guide member and is able to avoid curvature and deformation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00201 Fig. 1 is a cross-section side view diagram of a label application device provided with a label guide mechanism 8 and a width guide member 29 (label guide mechanism 8) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view diagram of a unit body 18 of a platen unit 17 provided with a separating mechanism 7 and a label guide mechanism 8 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a side view diagram of a platen unit 17 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is an IV-IV cross-section diagram of Fig. 3 showing a state before assembling a width guide member 29 to a platen unit 17 (unit body 18) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. S is an IV-IV cross-section diagram of Fig. 3 showing a state after assembling a width guide member 29 to a platen unit 17 (unit body 18) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view diagram of a width guide member 29 in upright state assembling a width guide member 29 from the lower part of a platen 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view diagram of a width guide member 29 in 180-degrees inverted state in the opposite direction from that of Fig. 6 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view diagram of a width guide member 29 in upright state similar to Fig. 6 with a width guide member 29 in a built-in state to a platen unit 17 (platen 20) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view diagram of a width guide member 29 in inverted state similar to Fig. 7 with a width guide member 29 in a built-in state to a platen unit 17 (platen 20) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0021] In the present invention, there is detachably provided a width guide member according to the several width types of the continuous label strips and the folding portions formed protruding in the width direction. Thereby achieving a label guide mechanism and a width guide member of label application device which can load continuous label strips with several width types to one label application device, and which can ensure mechanical strength of the width guide member by the folding portions formed at the knob portions.

Embodiments [0022] Hereinafter, according to embodiments of the present invention, a detailed description of the label guide mechanism 8 and the width guide member 29 of the label application device 1 will be explained with reference to the figures 1 to 9.

Fig. 1 is a cross-section side view diagram of the label application device 1. The label application device 1 includes a device body housing 2, an operation lever 3, a label supply 4, a transfer wheel 5, a printing mechanism 6 (a stamp printing mechanism), a separating mechanism 7, a label guide mechanism 8, and an applying roller 9.

[0023] The device body housing 2 consists of a pair of right and left (in a direction perpendicular to the cross-section side view diagram in Fig. 1) side boards which contain the entire label application device 1, and forms a grip 10 on the rear upper side (on the upper right side in Fig. 1).

[0024] The operation lever 3 is rotatably installed around an operation lever shaft 11 and is operable on the device body housing 2 (grip 10). By interposing a compression spring 12 between the operation lever and the grip 10, it enables the gripping operation of the grip 10 together with the operation lever 3 against the biasing force of the compression spring 12, and also the releasing operation. In addition, at the operation lever 3, a yoke 13 extending in the printing mechanism 6 direction, and an arm joining portion 14 extending to the rear of the transfer wheel 5 (on the right side in Fig. 1) are formed.

A continuous label strip C is a label with plural label pieces L temporary attached to a stripform backing sheet S. It is wound in a roll on the label supply 4 and loaded, then fed out from the label supply 4 to a transfer route 15 inside the device body housing 2.

The transfer route 15 passes through the transfer wheel portion 5 from the label supply 4, and at the separating mechanism 7, only the backing sheet S is folded backward and engages to the transfer wheel 5, then follows the route, so that the backing sheet S is fed out to the device body housing 2 from a space between an arm joining portion 14 and an exit guide 16.

When the operation lever 3 is held, printing is performed to a continuous label strip C (label piece L) by the printing mechanism 6. By the release of the operation lever 3, transfer of the continuous label strip C to the downstream direction and separation of the label piece L from the backing sheet S is performed. Then, with the grip 10 and the operation lever 3 still in released state, the entire label application device 1 abuts against any article (not shown in Fig. 1) and enabling applying of the label piece L by the applying roller 9.

[0025:1 Fig. 2 is a perspective view diagram of a unit body 18 of a platen unit 17 provided with the separating mechanism 7 and the label guide mechanism 8. Fig. 3 is a side view diagram of a platen unit 17.

In the platen unit 17, the unit body 18 includes a pair of right and left guide brackets 19 on the transfer route 15, and also integrally includes a platen 20 of the printing mechanism 6 located at anterior portion (downstream portion) between the guide brackets 19.

The pair of right and left guide brackets 19 (unit body 18) is rotatably supporting the transfer wheel S around the transfer wheel rotating axis 21, and also assembling the arc shaped a backing sheet guide cover 22 (Fig. 1) so as to cover the upper portion of the transfer wheel 5. Then, the guide bracket 19 (unit body 18) enables transferring the continuous label strip C onto the external wall portion of the backing sheet guide cover 22, and also enables the backing sheet S, turned at the separating mechanism 7, to pass through between the internal wall portion of the backing sheet guide cover 22 and the transfer wheel 5.

The transfer wheel 5 enables engaging the backing sheet S to the engagement pawis (not shown) formed at equal angle intervals on the circumference surface of the transfer wheel 5 according to the pitch of the label piece L; and the operation lever 3, through a transfer arm 24 connected to an arm joining portion 14 of the operation lever 3 through a transfer arm axis 23, enables the transfer wheel 5 to be rotatable. In other words, the backing sheet S (continuous label strip C) is transferrable to the downstream direction by the rotation of the transfer wheel 5 with the gripping and releasing of the operation lever 3.

[00261 The printing mechanism 6 (stamp printing mechanism), as illustrated in Fig. 1, includes a printing device 25 mounted at the end of the yoke of the operation lever 3, an ink roller 27 mounted at a roller axis 26 on the upper part at the tip of the device body housing 2 constantly biased to the printing device 25 direction by a predetermined elastic member (not shown), and the platen 20.

By the gripping operation of the operation lever 3, the printing device 25 performs predetermined printing to the continuous label strip C (label piece L) on the platen 20 by application of ink by the ink roller 27.

[0027] The separating mechanism 7, particularly as shown in Fig. 1, includes a turning pin 28 at the end of the platen 20, and with the transfer of the continuous label strip C inside the device body housing 2, turns only the backing sheet S at the turning pin 28 to the under surface side of the platen 20, further turns it to the transfer wheel 5 direction (to the rear), and separates the label piece L from the backing sheet S. The separated label pieces L can be applied to predetermined articles by the applying roller 9.

[0028] The label guide mechanism 8 is provided at the platen 20 over which the continuous label strip passes through the upper surface with the transfer by the transfer wheel 5, and enables to regulate the width direction of a large variety of continuous label strips having plural types of width Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are IV-IV cross-section diagrams of Fig. 3. The label guide mechanism 8 is detachable to the platen 20 from the under surface side of the platen 20 (platen unit 17), and includes a replaceable width guide member 29 according to the width of the continuous label strip C. In addition, Fig. 4 is shows a state before assembling the width guide member 29 to a platen unit 17 (unit body 18), and Fig. 5 is shows a state after assembling.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view diagram of the width guide member 29 in upright state assembling the width guide member 29 from the lower part of the platen 20. Fig. 7 is a perspective view diagram of the width guide member 29 in 180-degrees inverted state in the opposite direction from that of Fig. 6.

[0029] The width guide member 29 is, particularly as illustrated in Fig. 4, H-shaped in cross-section, and extending for a predetermined length in the transfer direction of the continuous label strip C. The width guide member 29 includes a base portion 30 extending in a cross-sectional manner along the width direction at the under surface (the lower portion) of the platen 20, a pair of right and left width regulating portion 31 extending from both ends of the base portion 30 to the upper surface side (the surface side) of the platen 20, and a pair of right and left knob portions 32 extending to the opposite side (the lower portion side) of the width regulating portion 31 from both ends of the base portion 30.

[00301 The pair of right and left width regulating portions 31, between the respective inward wall surfaces 31A, regulates the width of the continuous label strip having a corresponding width and properly guides the continuous label strip C. In other words, several width guide members 29 with different distances of a space W between the pair of right and left inward wall surfaces 31A of continuous label strips C are prepared according to the different widths of the continuous label strips.

Furthermore, between the right and left side portions of the platen 20 and the guide bracket 19, detachable openings 33, to insert the width regulating portions 31 and engage to fix, is penetratingly formed. The respective outward wall surfaces 31B formed from the pair of right and left width regulating portions 31 to the knob portions 32 engages along the respective outward wall surfaces 33A on the guide bracket sides 19 of the detachable openings 33 (Fig. 5) Still furthermore, the width regulating portions 31 include the guide side engaging portions 3lC detachable to the platen side engaging portions 19A formed on the guide brackets 19 on both sides of the platen 20.

In addition, particularly as illustrated in Fig. 5, at the detachable openings 33, even if the width regulating portions 31 of the width guide member 29 are inserted and engaged, the predetermined space portions (openings) between the inward wall surfaces 31A and the outward wall surfaces 20A of the platen 20. This enables to accommodate width guide member 29 with different thickness (thickness of the width direction of the continuous label strip C) of the width regulating portion 31 in various patterns, and also makes detaching of the width guide member 29 from the detachable openings 33 easy.

Furthermore, on the inward sides of the guide side engaging portions 31C, a tapered surface 3lD is formed so that the continuous label strip is easily guided to the platen 20 when loaded, and also the width regulating portions 31 are easily inserted to the detachable openings 33.

[00311 Particularly as illustrated in Fig. 7, on the back side of the base portion 30, there is provided an arrow 30A to show the transfer direction of the backing sheet S to the downstream side transfer wheel 5 from the width guide member 29. As also illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, on the outward wall surface 3lB side of the width regulating portions 31, stiffening ribs 34 are protrudingly formed from the width regulating portions 31 to the knob portions 32.

In addition, the pair of right and left knob portions 32 are integrally forming the folding portions 35 having a predetermined width and length extending planar at right angle to the knob portions 32 along the under surface of the platen 20. Further, the knob portions 32 respectively include a pair of upstream side auxiliary extended portions 36 (auxiliary extended portions) and a pair of downstream side auxiliary extended portions 37 (auxiliary extended portions), extending along the transfer direction of the backing sheet S. By forming the downstream side auxiliary extended portions 37 longer than the upstream side auxiliary extended portions 36, it stabilizes the guiding operation of the continuous label strip C (backing sheet S) to the transfer wheel 5 located on the downstream side at inward side of the device body housing 2.

[0032] The folding portions 35 are formed in the regions different from the jointing regions 32A of the knob portions 32 with the base portion 30. The folding portions 35, from the upstream side auxiliary extended portions 36 to the downstream side auxiliary extended portions 37, forms plural numbers of the upstream outward protruded folding portions 35A (outward protruded folding portions) and the upstream inward protruded folding portions 35B (inward protruded folding portions), both of which are of integrally planar state, and also plural numbers of the downstream inward protruded folding portions 35C (inward protruded folding portions) and the downstream outward protruded folding portions 35D (outward protruded folding portions), both of which are of integrally planar state. In addition, in the length direction of the knob portions 32, the folding portions 35 are formed between the upstream inward protruded folding portions 35B and the downstream inward protruded folding portions 35C, leaving the non-formed portions 35E therebetween.

Particularly, as illustrated in Fig. 7, the upstream inward protruded folding portions 35B and the downstream inward protruded folding portions 35C are extending from the ends of the knob portions 32 to the platen 20 side. In addition, the upstream outward protruded folding portions 35A and the downstream outward protruded folding portions 35D are extending from the ends of the knob portions 32 to the outward side of the platen 20.

The upstream auxiliary extended portions 36 are formed in tapered form towards the end potion (the upstream transfer direction of the continuous label strip C) and also protrudingly forming the stiffening ribs 38 at the downstream auxiliary extending portions 37.

[0033] In addition, Fig. 8 is the perspective view diagram of the width guide member 29 in upright state similar to Fig. 6 with the width guide member 29 in a built-in state to the platen unit 17 (platen 20) . Fig. 9 is the perspective view diagram of the width guide member 29 in inverted state similar to Fig. 7 with the width guide member 29 in a built-in state to the platen unit 17 (platen 20) As illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, to the upper surface side of the platen 20, facing are the inward wall surfaces 31A of the width regulating portions 31 of the width guide member 29. In addition, to the under surface side of the platen 20, facing are the base portion 30 and the knob portions 32 of the of the width guide member 29, and the folding portions 35 (the upstream outward protruded folding portions 35A, the upstream inward protruded folding portions 35B, the downstream inward protruded folding portions 35C, and the downstream outward protruded folding portions 35D).

[00341 As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, on the under surface of the platen 20, a plurality of vertical ribs 39 are formed towards the base portion 30 of the width guide member 29.

From the lower part of the platen 20, base portion 30 is engageable to the engageable concave portions 39A formed on the ends of the respective vertical ribs 39 (lower part of the diagram), thereby, in addition to engagement of the platen side engaging portion 19A of the guide bracket 19 with the guide side engaging portion 31C of the width regulating portion 31, further ensuring the fixing structure of the width guide member 29 to the platen 20.

[00351 Together with the transfer wheel 5, the separating mechanism 7, the label guide mechanism 8, and the transfer arm 24 etc. are assembled onto the previously mentioned platen unit 17.

In addition, the platen unit 17 is openable and closable to the device body housing 2 by the transfer arm axis 23 connecting the transfer arm 24 to the operation lever 3, enabling loading of the continuous label strip C inside the device body housing 2.

[00361 The label application device 1 and the label guide mechanism 8 of these structures, performs printing, transferring and separating of the continuous label strip C (label piece L) associated with gripping of the operation lever 3 to the grip 10 and its release.

Next, based on Figs. 4 and 5, the operation of the label guide mechanism 8 and the width guide member 29 are described.

In case of loading continuous label strips C (label piece L) with different widths to the label application device 1 (label supply 4), the guide side engaging portions 31C of the width regulating portions 31 of the width guide member 29 is unfixed from the platen side engaging portions l9A of the guide brackets 19 of the label guide mechanism 8, and the base portion 30 of the width guide member 29 is unfixed from the engageable concave portions 39A of the vertical ribs 39 at the lower part of the platen 20. Then, the width regulating portions 31 are passed through the detachable openings 33 and the width guide member 29 is unfixed from the platen 20 (platen unit 17) Next, the new width guide member 29 having a space W between a pair of right and left inward wall surfaces 3lA of width regulating portions 31 corresponding to the width of the new continuous label strip C is, as illustrated in Fig. 4, inserted to the detachable openings 33 from the lower side of the platen unit 17 (platen 20). Then the guide side engaging portions 31C of the width regulating portions 31 are engaging to the platen side engaging portions 19A of the guide bracket 19, and the base portion 30 also engaging to the engageable concave portions of vertical ribs 39, fixing the width guide member 29 to the lower part of the platen 20, enabling the inward wall surfaces 3lA of the width regulating portions 31 to properly regulate the width and guide the continuous label strip C with the new width.

Therefore, with one label application device 1, by loading various types of continuous label strips C having several different widths, it is possible to perform printing, transferring and separating and applying operations.

In addition, as it is possible to load several types of continuous label strips on one label application device 1, as a printing device 25, it will be possible to selectively equip the same device body housing 2 (yoke 13 of the operation lever 3), according to the continuous label strip C width whether it is small or large in width, with any number of rows, for example, a one line type (one row type) performing printing on one line, or a two line type (two row type) performing printing on two lines.

[00371 Furthermore, at the width regulating portions 31 and the knob portions 32 locating perpendicular to the platen 20 by the attachment to the platen 20, the planar folding portions locating parallel to the platen 20 are integrally provided.

Therefore, even if it is necessary to make the thickness of the width regulating portions 31 and the knob portions 32 thinner according to the different width of the continuous label strips C, the folding portions 35 can ensure the mechanical strength of the entire width guide member 29 and prevent the curvature.

In addition, at the knob portions 32, as the pair of auxiliary extended portions (upstream side auxiliary extended portion 36 and downstream side auxiliary extended portion 37) are formed, it is possible to maintain the stiffness by the stiffening effect within the range of the predetermined length by the folding portions 35, and is possible to guide the continuous label strip C along a relatively long range.

Therefore, even if it is an unique shape as a continuous label strip C, for example, a continuous label strip with both ends having a convexo-concave shape, it is possible to perform width guiding of the convex shape portion for a relatively long range, and in the transfer direction of the continuous label strip C, it is possible to demonstrate stable guiding functions and transferring functions in the length direction.

[00381 In addition, as illustrated by the phantom line in Figs. 7 and 9, the backing sheet S at the time of loading to the label application device 1, particularly in the length direction of the knob portion 32, between the upstream inward protruded folding portions 353 of the folding portion 35 and the downstream inward protruded folding portions 35C of the folding portion 35, the unformed portions 35E are provided.

Therefore, by forming the unformed portions 35E slightly larger in width and length than the convex portions of the backing sheet S (the continuous label strip C) of which both ends having a convexo-concave shape, and by forming the upstream inward protruded folding portions 35B and the downstream inward protruded folding portions 35C slightly smaller in width and length than the concave portions of the backing sheet S (the continuous label strip C). the backing sheet S, positioned at the under surface portion of the platen unit 17 (platen 20), is guided to the lower part of the platen unit 17 without stranding on to the folding portions 35 (the upstream inward protruded folding portions 35B and the downstream inward protruded folding portions 35C), and is possible to be set on the regular transfer route 15 (the setting position of the continuous label strip C or the backing sheet S). In addition, by the width regulating portions 31 of the width guide member 29, it is possible to perform regular width regulation of the continuous label strip C (backing sheet S), and also with the upstream inward protruded folding portions 35B and the downstream inward protruded folding portions 35C unfailingly holding down the backing sheet S to the under surface direction of the platen 20, the flapping of the backing sheet s caused by the transfer of the continuous label strip C by the intermittent rotation of the transfer wheel 5 can be prevented.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0039] 1 label application device (Fig. 1) 2 device body housing 3 operation lever 4 label supply transfer wheel 6 printing mechanism (print stamping mechanism) 7 separating mechanism 8 label guide mechanism of the label application device 1 (embodiments, Figs. 4 to 9) 9 applying roller grip 11 operation lever axis 12 compression spring 13 yoke of operation lever 3 14 arm joining portion of operation lever 3 transfer route of continuous label strip C 16 exit guide 17 platen unit (Figs. 2 and 3) 18 unit body 19 guide bracket 19A platen side engaging portion of guide bracket 19 platen 20A outward wall surface of platen 20 21 transfer wheel 5 rotating axis 22 backing sheet guide cover 23 transfer arm axis (Fig. 1) 24 transfer arm printing device 26 roller axis 27 ink roller 28 turning pin of separating mechanism 7 29 width guide member of label guide mechanism 8 (Fig. 4 to 7) base portion of width guide member 29 30A arrow to show transfer direction of backing sheet S on rear side of base portion 30 31 width regulating portion of width guide member 29 31A inward wall surface of width regulating portion 31 3lB outward wall surface of width regulating portion 31 3lC guide side engaging portion of width regulating portion 31 31D tapered surface of width regulating portion 31 32 knob portion of width guide member 29 32A joining portion between knob portion 32 and base portion 33 detachable opening 33A outward wall surface of detachable opening 33 34 stiffening rib folding portion formed at knob portion 32 35A upstream outward protruded folding portion of folding portion 35 35B upstream inward protruded folding portion of folding portion 35 35C downstream inward protruded folding portion of folding portion 35 35D downstream outward protruded folding portion of folding portion 35 35E folding portion 35 unformed portion 36 upstream side auxiliary extended portion (auxiliary extended portion) 37 downstream side auxiliary extended portion (auxiliary extended portion) 38 stiffening rib 39 plurality of vertical ribs formed on under surface of platen 20 39A engageable concave portion of vertical rib 39 C continuous label strip L label piece S backing sheet W space between a pair of right and left inward wall surface 31A of width regulating portion 31

Claims

CLAIMS1. A label guide mechanism for a label application device having: a device body housing; an operation lever operable on the device body housing; a transfer wheel engaged to a strip shaped backing sheet of a continuous label strip with plural label pieces temporally attached to the strip shaped backing sheet, and able to transfer the continuous label strip in downstream direction with gripping and releasing of the operation lever; a platen of which on the upper surface the continuous label strip passes through with the transfer of the label by the transfer wheel; and a separating mechanism wherein only the backing sheet is turned to the under surface side of the platen with the transfer of the continuous label strip inside the device body housing, separating the label piece from the backing sheet and enabling application to an article, wherein a label guide mechanism is able to regulate a width direction of plural continuous label strip width; characterized in that the label guide mechanism for the label application device having: a width guide member detachable from the platen from the under surface side of the platen and also changeable according to the width of the continuous label strip; the width guide member having: a base portion extending along the width direction of the under surface of the platen; a pair of right and left width regulating portions extending from both ends of the base portion to the upper surface side of the platen; and a pair of right and left knob portions extending to the opposite side of the width regulating portion from both ends of the base portion; wherein the knob portion is integrally formed with a folding portion having a predetermined width and length extending planar along the under surface of the platen.
2. The label guide mechanism of a label application device according to claim 1, wherein the folding portion is extending at right angle to the knob portion.
3. The label guide mechanism of a label application device according to claim 1, wherein the folding portion is formed in a region different from a jointing region of the knob portion with the base portion.
4. The label guide mechanism of a label application device according to claim 1, wherein plural folding portions are formed at the knob portion and formed in a length direction of the knob portion leaving unformed portions between each portions.
5. The label guide mechanism of a label application device according to claim 1, wherein the folding portion is provided with an inward protruded folding portion extending from the knob portion to the platen side, and an outward protruded folding portion extending from the knob portion to the outward side of the platen.
6. The label guide mechanism of a label application device according to claim 1, wherein a pair of right and left knob portions is respectively provided with a pair of auxiliary extended portions extending to upstream and downstream of the knobs along the transfer direction of the backing sheet.
7. A width regulating member detachable from the platen of the label application device, the label application device having: a device body housing; an operation lever operable on the device body housing; a transfer wheel engaged to a strip shaped backing sheet of a continuous label strip with plural label pieces temporally attached to the strip shaped backing sheet, and able to transfer the continuous label strip in downstream direction with gripping and releasing of the operation lever; a platen of which on the upper surface the continuous label strip passes through with the transfer of the label by the transfer wheel; a separating mechanism wherein only the backing sheet is turned to the under surface side of the platen with the transfer of the continuous label strip inside the device body housing, separating the label piece from the backing sheet and enabling application to an article; and a label guide mechanism which is able to regulate a width direction of plural continuous label strip width; characterized in that the width guide member is detachable from the platen from the under surface side of the platen and having: a base portion extending along the width direction of the under surface of the platen; a pair of right and left width regulating portions extending from both ends of the base portion to the upper surface side of the platen able to regulate the width direction of the continuous label strip; and a pair of right and left knob portions extending to the opposite side of the width regulating portion from both ends of the base portion; wherein the knob portion is integrally formed with a folding portion having a predetermined width and length extending planar along the under surface of the platen.
8. A label guide mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
9. A width regulating member substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.