NL2007623C2 - Printing assembly, base with a winding unit and method for printing tape. - Google Patents

Description

P95977NL00

Title: Printing assembly, base with a winding unit and method for printing tape.

The invention relates to a printing assembly.

For products such as but not limited to consumer products, for example perishable foods, time stamping during packaging is important in order to inform the consumers of for example the date of production and/or 5 packaging. To this end stamps can be used, which can by hand or automatically stamp a date on the products.

Sealers are known to close bags or tie products into bundles, by closing a piece of adhesive tape around the products or a neck of a bag. The free ends of the adhesive tape are placed against each other, adhesive faces 10 facing, such that they are stuck together. This closes the bag. Opening of the bag can be accomplished by cutting off the adhered free ends and then trying to pull the bag open. This is not easy.

From for example NL8902097 a sealer for closing bags is known in which a piece of adhesive tape is wound around the neck of a bag, wherein the 15 two ends of the adhesive tape are covered by a further piece of tape, which prevents said ends from sticking together. The bag can then be opened by pulling apart the said ends of the adhesive tape, thereby severing the further tape. Figure 3 of NL8902097 represents a bag closing in this way. The further tape can be non adhesive tape, such as paper.

20 Similar tape, adhesive or non adhesive, can be used for other purposes, such as closing boxes, tying products, attaching information to boxes, containers, bags or other packaging or products and similar uses.

It would be helpful to provide printing on tape for these purposes.

The invention relates to providing an assembly for providing 25 printing on tape.

2

In an aspect an assembly of the present invention can comprise a printer and a winding unit. The printer unit comprises a print head for printing tape and the winding unit comprises a core mounting for mounting a core for winding tape printed by the print head.

5 In another aspect the invention can comprise a base for a print assembly, wherein a winding unit is provided on the base. Positioning provisions are provided on the base for positioning of a printer, such that an outlet of the printer for printed tape is aligned with a core mounting of the winding unit.

10 In a further aspect the invention can comprise a method for providing tape with printing, wherein tape is fed through a printer and is wound onto a core after printing.

In embodiments of the invention tape can be unwound from a roll of tape, be fed through a printer, such that printing is provided on said tape, 15 which tape is then rewound into at least one roll of printed tape. This printed tape can then be used for example for the uses as defined in the introduction. This means that any length of tape can be printed and then be wound into rolls of tape for further use, especially relatively small lengths of for example tens of meters to for example one or a few hundreds of meters. For example an 20 amount of similarly printed tape can be wound into rolls sufficient for a specific charge of products, a day’s production or similarly limited amounts of applications.

Further aspects, features and embodiments of the invention are described hereafter in the description and claims and are presented in the 25 drawings.

For a better understanding of the invention different embodiments thereof are hereafter described, with reference to the drawings. These drawings show:

Fig. 1 in top view schematically a printing assembly, with a winding 30 unit and a printer, partly broken away; 3

Fig 2 in side view schematically a printing assembly of fig. 1;

Fig. 3 in top and side view schematically a base with a winding unit, partly broken away;

Fig. 4 in cross section along the line A - A in fig 3 schematically a 5 base with winding unit of fig. 3;

Fig. 5 schematically a core mounting with a shaft and mounting means for a core, in exploded view and in assembled condition;

Fig. 6 schematically in side view a roll of tape, unwound and fed through a printer, where after the printed tape is rewound onto a core, to be 10 used further, for example in a sealer as described.

Fig. 7 In perspective view a printer assembly.

In this description the embodiments as shown are only shown by way of example, in elucidation of the invention, and should by no means be considered as limiting the invention in any way. In the embodiments shown 15 the same or similar parts have the same or similar reference signs.

In this description tape should be understood as encompassing but not limited to strips of flexible, thin material, such as but not limited to plastic or paper. The material can have a thickness of less than 0.5 mm, for example 0.25 mm or less, such as 0.15 mm or less. Tape can have a width of 20 mm or 20 less, such as 10 mm or less, for example 5 mm or less. Tape can be adhesive tape or, preferably, non adhesive tape.

Fig. 1 and 2 show a printing assembly 1, comprising a printer 2 and a winding unit 3. The printer 1 can be a known tape printer 2, for example a mini printer 2. In an embodiment as for example shown in figure 7 the printer 25 2 can be of a type CG208TT of Sato (www.satoworldwide.com). In fig. 1 and 2 schematically a printer 2 is shown, partially in cross section. The printer comprises a printer head 4, which can be any known printer system, such as but not limited to a matrix printer head, an ink jet printer head, a thermal printer head or a head of any other suitable printer system, including daisy 30 wheel printer heads. The printer 2 is provided with suitable controls 5 and ink 4 supply 6, such that printing can be provided on a surface of tape 40, in a known manner.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 2 the printer 2 comprises a tape feeder 7 for feeding tape from a roll 8 of tape 2 along the printer head 4.

5 The tape feeder 7 can for example comprise a step feeder or continuous feeder, such as feed wheels, driven by a motor 9. The tape 40 can be fed by the feeder 7 through an outlet opening 10 towards the winding unit 3. In the embodiment shown the roll 8 of tape is shown as provided on mounting means within a housing 11 of the printer 2. In an alternative embodiment the roll 8 can be 10 mounted outside the housing 11. In another embodiment the tape can be fed from a stack, for example a stack of folded tape 40, within or outside the housing 11. The printer 2 can be designed such that it can feed both tape from a roll 8 such as a master roll, and tape 40 from a stack or from a strip or otherwise.

15 As can be seen from fig. 1 - 5 the printer 2 and winding unit 3 can be provided on a common base 12. The base 2 can for example comprise a plate 13 with a mounting provision 14 for a printer 2 and mounting provision 15 for the winding unit 3. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 2 the mounting provision 15 for the printer 2 comprises a wall 16 forming preferably at least 20 on two sides of the printer 2 a position defining space against which the printer 2 can be positioned. Preferably the wall extends on at least parts of four sides of the printer 2, such that the position of the printer 2 is exactly defined by said wall 16. In embodiments at least parts of the wall 16 can be repositionable, that is adjustable in position relative to the base and other 25 parts of the wall 16, such that the mounting provision 14 can be adjusted in size to fit a different printer 2. In other embodiments the mounting provision 14 can comprise other means for positioning and retaining the printer 2, for example one or more indentations in the base, Velcro cooperating with Velcro attached to the printer 2, magnetic means or other such provisions for 30 positioning and retaining the printer at least against movement along the base 5 12. Alternatively the printer can be fixed permanently to the base or can be positioned free on the base, held in position by weight.

The winding unit 3 is in the embodiment shown attached to the base 12 by mounting provisions 15 that allow at least adjustment of the position of 5 the winding unit 3 along the surface of the base 12, especially over the plate 13, to reposition the unit 3 relative to the printer 2 and, especially, relative to the outlet opening of the printer 3. In the embodiment shown the winding unit comprises at least one bracket 17 which has a slot 18 through which a bolt 19 extends from the base 12. A nut 20 is screwed onto the bolt for clamping the 10 bracket 17 against the base 12, such that it is fixed in position. By releasing the nut 20 the bracket and therefore the unit 3 can be slid over the base along the slot 18, such that the unit can be repositioned, after which the nut can be tightened again and the unit is fixed in a new position. The slot preferably extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the feeding direction F of 15 the printer 2. In preferred embodiments guide elements 21 are provided for guiding the unit 3 in the direction of the slot 18. In other embodiments different mounting provisions 15, preferably adjustable, can be provided for the unit 13, for example similar to the provisions 14 as discussed for the printer 2.

20 The winding unit 3 comprises a housing 22 mounted to the base 12.

From the housing 22 a core mounting 23 extends, with a shaft 24 extending into the housing 22, driven by a motor 25, to be rotated around a longitudinal axis X - X of the shaft 24. The shaft 24 can be driven directly by the motor 25. In the embodiment shown a transmission 26 is provided between the shaft 24 25 and the motor 25. The transmission can be provided to adjust the rotational speed of the motor to a higher or, preferably, lower speed of the shaft 24. In the same or different embodiments the transmission can be provided with a slip coupling, for purposes to be discussed.

The core mounting 23 is designed for holding a core 27 for winding 30 tape 40 fed from the printer 2 into a roll 41 of printed tape 40. The core 6 mounting 23 is preferably designed such that a core 27 mounted thereon will be rotated together with the shaft around the axis X - X thereof. The axis extends perpendicular to the feed direction F. The core mounting 23 is designed such that the core is aligned with the opening 10 of the printer 2. The 5 core mounting 23 can be provided with a first flange 28 mounted in a fixed position to the shaft, relatively close to the housing 22. A second flange 29 can be provided on the shaft 24, which can be adjustable in axial direction X - X of the shaft 24, relative to the first flange 28, to adjust for the width W of the core, which can be chosen to fit the width Wt of the tape 40 fed from the 10 printer 2. The printer 2 can be designed to handle different widths Wt of tape, to which end the core mounting 23 can be equally designed to be adjustable to fit different widths W of cores corresponding to said widths Wt of tape 40. The second flange 29 can be mounted onto the shaft 24 in any suitable way, as is known to a person skilled in the art, to be axially adjustable. In the 15 embodiments shown the second flange can be mounted onto the shaft using at least one nut 30 screwed onto the free end 31 of the shaft 24. The flange 29 can then be adjusted by first mounting a core 27 with a central opening 42 onto the shaft 24, against the first flange 28 and then screwing the second flange against the core 27 on the side facing away from the first flange 28. In this way 20 the core 27 can be clamped between the two flanges 28, 29. In another embodiment the second flange can be provided with internal screw threads to be screwed onto the shaft 24 directly. In a further embodiment a second nut 32 can be provided to be screwed against the second flange 29 or the first nut 30, such that the position of the second flange 29 relative to the first flange 28 and 25 a core 27 can be fixed independently. Hereby the force exerted to the core 27 can be adjusted. In still another embodiment, as for example shown schematically in fig. 5, a tube 43 can be positioned over the free end 31 of the shaft, fixed by fixators 44 such as screw or bolts against the first flange 28, having a length in axial direction of the shaft adjusted to the width W of the 30 core 27, such that when the second flange 29 is screwed onto the shaft 24 it can 7 be fixed against the free end of the tube, defining the second flanges position. The length of the tube can be chosen such that when a core is positioned over said tube, the second flange 29 will only lightly clamp the core 27. Different tube lengths can be provided for fitting different widths of cores 27. In further 5 embodiments the shaft 24 can be provided with provisions for allowing fixation of the second flange 29 to the shaft in a number of discrete positions relative to the first flange, for example but not limited to a series of notches in the shaft, wherein the second flange can be clicked into positioning any one of such notches.

10 As can be seen in fig. 6 especially, with an assembly of the present invention tape 40 can be fed to and/or through a printer 2, such that printing is provided onto the tape 7 by a printing head 4, where after the tape is wound onto a core 27 positioned on the core mounting 23 on the shaft, which is rotated for winding the tape 40 onto the core, forming a roll 41. Preferably the 15 winding speed of the winding unit 3 can be decreased with increasing diameter of the roll of tape wound by the winding unit 3, such that it is prevented that the tape is pulled through the printer 2 by the winding unit or at least that it is prevented that the speed of the tape fed through the printer is influenced to an undesired extend by the winding unit 3.

20 The rotational speed of the core mounting 23 and thus of the core 27 is preferably synchronized with the feeding speed of the printer, such that relatively little tension is developed in the tape 40. To this end the feeder of the printer 2 and the motor 25 of the winding unit 3 can be synchronized by a synchronizer 33, which can for example be an electronic control. For example 25 the control can be such that the feeding speed of the feeder of the printer 3 is set at a constant speed and the speed of the motor 25 of the winding unit 3 is adjusted to said feeding speed, wherein the control can be set such that the speed of the motor 25 is adjusted during winding of a roll on the core 27, in relation to the increasing diameter of the roll on the core mounting 23, in order 30 to maintain a substantially constant tension in the tape 40. Such control can 8 be fixed by an algorithm or the like electronics in the synchronizer 33. Alternatively a sensor can be provided in the winding unit, sensing a pulling force exerted by the tape 40 to the shaft 24, wherein the control can adjust the rotational speed of the motor 25 in relation to a signal received from said 5 sensor, such that the tension is controlled between a minimum and maximum tension, or preferably at about a preset tension. Other known synchronizing means can be provided.

In alternative embodiments, especially useful when using standard printing equipment, the transmission 26 can comprise a slip coupling, as 10 discussed, such that the rotational speed of the core mounting 23, and thus of the core, is automatically adjusted depending on tension in the tape 40 when fed through the printer 2, slowing the core 27 with increasing diameter of the roll 41 of tape wound by the winding unit 3, by increasing slip in the transmission 26. In further embodiments the core mounting 24 can be 15 designed such that the core 27 can slip relative to the shaft 24 such that it will be rotated by the core mounting but with decreasing speed upon increasing diameter of the roll of tape wound onto the core 27, again maintaining a pulling force in the tape 40 between a minimum and maximum or, preferably, at about a desired force, such that the printing is not negatively influenced by 20 the winding unit 3.

In further alternative embodiments the printer 2 can be adjusted to the increasing diameter of the roll of tape wound by the winding unit 3, for example by adjusting the printing speed by the print head and/or by adjusting the feeding speed. In further embodiments the printer 2 can be devoid of 25 feeding means, the tape fed through the printer 2 by the winding unit.

Obviously combinations of these adjustment means can be combined.

In the embodiment shown the shaft 24 is mounted to the transmission 26 by fixing the shaft on an output axis of the transmission 26. In 30 embodiments the shaft 24 can be mounted to said axis such that it can be 9 shifted in an axially direction, for example using a transmission axis which is non-round in cross section, which will again allow for alignment of the core mounting 23 relative to the printer 2, for example when a different width of tape 40 is to be printed and wound.

5 The printer 2 can be provided with control means for defining printings to be printed onto the tape, such as a key board, touch screen or graphic interface. The printer can be provided with means for feeding such prints into the printer, for example by connecting to a computer or such electronic device, by connecting the printer to a memory device such as but not 10 limited to a USB device, memory card or chip or the like. The printer can be designed to print codes onto the tape, which can be all unique or similar, for example date codes, provenance codes or the like, which can for example be sequential, random or otherwise defined in order to be able to for example track and trace products, to convey information to users such as retailers and 15 consumers, or to otherwise mark or authenticate products or parts thereof.

With an assembly 1 according to this description any size of roll of printed tape can be provided, depending on for example a users desires. Standard rolls of tape, such as rolls of paper tape can be purchased, such as for example used in the sealers as described in the introduction to the specification, and can be 20 individually provided with printing, especially product dependent codes as described. The printed tape can be rewound into the same or similar rolls for use in said sealers.

Fig. 7 shows in perspective view an assembly of a printer for printing tape and the winding unit with a roll 41 being formed.

25 The invention is by no means limited to the embodiments shown and discussed here above. Many alternatives are possible within the scope of the invention such as defined by the claims. For example a printer and winding unit can be integrated into one housing or one unit. Another printer can be used with a winding unit as described. A winding unit can be provided for 30 simultaneously winding a series of rolls fed from the same or a series of 10 printers. Tape fed to the printer can be blank tape but could also be pre printed with at least part of a print, such as a company identifier, for example trade names or logos. In the embodiments shown a commercially available printer is described, by way of example only. Alternatively a dedicated printer 5 can be used. These and other embodiments, including all combinations of parts of the embodiments described are considered to have been disclosed in this description too.

Claims (15)

A print assembly comprising a printer and a winding unit, the printer unit comprising a print head for printing tape and the winding unit comprising a core attachment for attaching a core for winding tape printed by the printer. The print assembly of claim 1, wherein the core mount is motor driven. 3. Print assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the printer is provided with a tape feeder. 4. Print assembly according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a synchronizer 10 is provided for synchronizing the tape feeder and rotating the core attachment. 5. Print assembly according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the printer and the winding unit are mounted on a common base, such that the tape printed by the printer can be wound on the core mounted on the core mount. The print assembly according to claim 5, wherein the position of the winding unit and / or the printer relative to the base is adjustable, for aligning a tape outlet of the printer and the core mounted on the core mount. A print assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor drive for the core mount comprises a transmission between a shaft of the core mount and the motor. 8. Print assembly according to claim 7, wherein the transmission allows slip, such that the rotation of a core mounted on the core attachment can be adjusted by a tensile force in the tape that is wound onto the core attachment core. 9. Print assembly as claimed in any of the claims 1-8, wherein the winding unit is designed such that the rotation of the core attachment and / or the core attached to the core attachment can be adjusted by a tensile force exerted by tape applied to a on the core attachment attached core is wound. 10. A print assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the core attachment comprises a shaft with at least two flanges extending from the shaft, wherein at least one of the flanges is detachable from the shaft and can be fixed in an axial position of the shaft , relative to the other of the two flanges, to adjust differences in width of the core to be attached. 11. Print assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the printer comprises mounting means for a roll of tape. 12. Base for a print assembly, wherein a winding unit is provided on the base and wherein positioning provisions are provided on the base for positioning a printer, such that an outlet of the printed tape printer is aligned with a core attachment of the printer. winding unit. 13. Method for providing tape with a print, wherein the tape is fed through a printer and after printing is wound onto a core. The method of claim 13, wherein the tape is unwound from a tape roll before printing and wound onto a roll after printing on the core. A method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the tape is a non-adhesive tape, which is provided with printing, wherein the printing preferably comprises coding, such as a date coding.