US3918351A

US3918351A - Integrated piston-cylinder and control valve assembly

Info

Publication number: US3918351A
Authority: US
Inventors: Eugene W Finke
Original assignee: Monarch Marking Systems Inc
Current assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
Priority date: 1971-01-08
Filing date: 1973-06-13
Publication date: 1975-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 1992-11-11

Abstract

A hand held, automatic labelling machine in which the printing head and feed roller are powered by a double acting piston and cylinder. Pressurized fluid is directed to opposite sides of the piston through a valve member controlled by means of a sensing mechanism. An applicator roll is carried by the sensing mechanism so that contact between the applicator roll and an article to be labelled as a label is applied to the article automatically causes the next label to be printed and positioned opposite the applicator roll, ready for application to another article.

Description

United States Patent [1 Finke Nov. 11, 1975 1 INTEGRATED PISTON-CYLINDER AND CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: Eugene W. Finke, Miamisburg, Ohio [73] Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.,

Dayton, Ohio [22] Filed: June 13, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 369,668

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 104,874, Jan. 8,

abandoned.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 230,943 8/1880 lnnis 91/466 1,095,057 4/1914 Wolf.... 91/466 X 1,204,666 11/1916 Kern 91/466 2,119,056 5/1938 Peterson 249/96 X 2,126,089 8/1938 Brown a 123/193 C 2,742,924 4/1956 Harter 137/625.48 X

|1o\ 3 "4 I84 |ao I84 2,777,427 l/l957 Nichols 92/136 X 2,888,679 6/1959 Peterssen et a1 91/418 X 2,928,379 3/1960 Preciado 92/118 2,937,622 5/1960 Brimhall 92/130 3,202,170 8/1965 Holbrook 137/625.27 X

3,218,938 11/1965 Bishop 91/417 X 3,221,770 12/1965 Faisandier 91/466 X 3,283,784 11/1966 Ruchser 137/625.26 X

3,418,002 12/1968 Hennells 137/625.69 X

3,485,141 12/1969 Ott et a1 92/130 3,581,364 6/1971 Wyse 264/261 X 3,678,811 7/1972 Penwell 92/169 Primary E.\'aminer-lrwin C. Cohen Attorney, Agent, or Firm. loseph .1. Grass 57 'ABSTRACT A hand held, automatic labelling machine in which the printing head and feed roller are powered by a double acting piston and cylinder. Pressurized fluid is directed to opposite sides of the piston through a valve member controlled by means of a sensing mechanism. An applicator roll is carried by the sensing mechanism so that contact between the applicator roll and an article to be labelled as a label is applied to the article automatically causes the next label to be printed and positioned opposite the applicator roll, ready for application to another article.

9 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures I92 l L US. Patent Nov. 11,1975 SheetlofS 3,918,351

7I 'IIIAJ/II1 US. Patent Nov. 11,1975 Sheet20f5 3,918,351

U.S. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 3 of5 3,918,351

mid- 2 U.S. Patnt Nov. 11,1975 Sheet4of5 3,918,351

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INTEGRATED PISTON-CYLINDER AND CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLY CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a division of application Ser. No. 104,874, filed Jan. 8, 1971, now abandoned. Reference is also made to applications Ser. No. 104,873, filed Jan. 8, 1971, now Pat. No. 3,784,665 and Ser. No. 243,142, filed Apr. 12, 1972, now Pat. No. 3,840,422, which are owned by the same assignee as the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION US. Pat. No. 3,440,123 discloses a hand labeller which prints and dispenses a label from a roll of such labels upon actuation of spring biased handle. This labeller includes a base frame, an upper handle fixed to the base frame and a lower handle pivoted to the base frame for movement towards and away from the upper handle. A printing head is mounted on a supporting framework which is fixed to the lower handle so that movement of the lower handle towards the upper handle causes the printing head to be moved towards and away from a printing platen mounted on the base frame in opposition to the printing head. A magazine is provided for carrying a roll of pressure sensitive labels adhered to a backing strip and the backing strip with labels adhered thereto is trained through the labelling machine, over the printing platen and thence, reversely between a pair of cooperating drive and idler rollers. A rack is associated with the supporting frame for the printing head and the rack cooperates with appropriate gearing and clutch mechanism to rotate the drive roller as the lower spring biased handle moves away from the upper handle when the pressure thereon is relaxed.

The above noted labeller contains many features in addition to those described above for regulating tension on the backing strip, indexing the labels through the machine, preventing jamming and tearing of the strip of labels, etc., all of which are described in detail in the above noted patent and which have contributed to the widespread acceptance with which this labeller has been received in the industry. Despite the many advantages which the above noted labeller holds over prior art structures, however, there are, nonetheless, certain areas open to improvements.

For example, although the spring tension against which the lower handle works is not excessive, it will be apparent that prolonged use of the labeller, particularly by one not accustomed to using it, may cause some .fatique. Additionally, three sequential actions are required: squeezing the handles together, releasing pressure on the handles and applying the label on an article by a wiping action.

Thus, the initial squeezing together of the upper and lower handles will cause the printing head to move toward the printing platen to imprint the desired indicia on the particular label indexed over the platen at that time. As the pressure on the handles is released the printing head supporting frame and rack move upwardly and, through the one-way clutch mechanism associated with the drive roller, dispense the printed label from the labelling machine. The labelling machine, with a freshly printed label positioned opposite an applicator roll associated with the labeller, should then be manipulated with a wiping action to cause the label to be applied to the surface of the article to be labelled.

It will be seen, therefore, that despite the many advantageous features associated with the above noted hand labeller and its widespread commercial acceptance, certain features thereof might be modified to advantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention resides in the provision of a hand held automatic labelling machine which is automatically operated to feed a printed label into a labelling station in response to application of a label.

The hand held labeller of the present invention incorporates all of the desirable features of the hand held labeller described above and in Pat. No. 3,440,123, but additionally incorporates certain improvements which add to both its efficiency and ease of operation. Thus, the hand held labeller of the present invention includes a base frame upon which is pivotally mounted a supporting frame carrying a printing head for relative movement towards and away from a printing platen. A rack extending from the printing head supporting frame actuates, through gearing and a one-way clutch mechanism, a drive roller to cause a series of labels adhered to a backing strip to be drawn through the labelling machine, over the printing platen, and thence, over a stripping mechanism for separating each individual label from the backing strip for application to an article to be labelled. Additionally, mechanism is provided for indexing the labels through the machine, maintaining proper backing strip tension to prevent jamming of the labels through the machine, etc.

However, actuation of the supporting frame which carries the printing head and the rack mechanism for driving the drive roller is accomplished, not through a manually actuated handle, as in the above noted prior art labeller, but by means of a power driven mechanism. As a result, it is not necessary to overcome spring pressure in squeezing together a pair of opposed upper and lower handles to cause the printing and dispensing of a label but instead, it is merely necessary to actuate a drive mechanism, which is carried in the single, hollow handle attached to the base frame of the labelling machine.

Preferably, actuation is accomplished automatically by meaens of an applicator frame pivotally mounted on the base frame and carrying an applicator to press printed labels against the articles to be labelled. Linkage extends from the applicator frame rearwardly to a control valve which controls a drive mechanism. In a preferred embodiment the drive mechanism is a double acting piston and cylinder and the control valve is operated by the applicator frame to direct the flow of a fluid under pressure alternately to opposite sides of the piston of the piston and cylinder mechanism. In this way, contact with the article to be labelled by the applicator will cause the applicator frame to pivot about its connection to the base frame, and through the linkage mechanism, cause a label to be printed.

As the labeller is removed from the article labelled, the applicator frame returns to its original position, repositioning the control valve and directing fluid under pressure to the opposite side of the piston. This in turn will cause the label just printed to be fed forward to the applicator and the strip of labels to be advanced to position a subsequent label in position for printing.

With the hand held labeller of the present invention, therefore, manual operation of the various components thereof is unnecessary and the printing and dispensing of a label from the labelling machine is accomplished by contacting the article to be labelled with the applicator. Operation of the hand held labelling machine of the present invention, therefore, not only involves little physical exertion on the part of the operator but requires little or no experience, co-ordination or manual dexterity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of one side of a labelling machine according to the present invention with portions broken away for clarity and other portions shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is another elevational view of the opposite side of a labelling machine according to the present inventlon;

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding generally to FIG. 1 but on an enlarged scale and with components shown in a different position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of another portion of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view through a piston and cylinder mechanism and control valve assembly;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the assembly of FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 99 of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10-l0 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the actuating mechanism including the actuating frame, the applicator roll, and the interconnecting linkage;

FIG. 12 is a view showing the manual operation of the labelling machine of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a view, partly in section, through a second preferred embodiment of piston and cylinder mechanism and control valve assembly;

FIG. 14 is a view of a portion of a spool valve;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a bushing used in the embodiment of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 16 is a view, partly in section, showing another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a specific embodiment of a hand held labelling machine in accordance with the present invention includes a base frame 10, a handle 12, a printing head 14 and related supporting frame 16, a feed assembly 18, a drive mechanism 20 and sensing mechanism 22. Base frame 10 includes a pair of spaced

parallel side plates

24 and 26 attached adjacent their rearward ends to the upper half 28 of the handle assembly 12. Also attached to the rearward ends of the base

frame side plates

24 and 26 is an upstanding magazine 30 which serves as a source of label supply and includes a pair of spaced

parallel arms

32 and 34

bearing discs

36 and 38, respectively, intermediate their lengths for the support of a roll 39 of labels carried on a continuous strip or backing tape, all as described in detail in the above noted Patent No. 3,440,123.

With reference also to FIG. 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the

side plates

24 and 26 also carry a feeder frame 40 pivoted between the side plates, as at 42 and journalling a pinion 44, a gear and one-way clutch mechanism 46 and a feed roller 48, again, all as explained in detail in the above noted patent. The feeder frame also carries a camming surface 50 and the side plates of the base frame journal an idler roller 52 in opposition to the feed roller 48. As noted above, the printing head 14 is carried by a supporting frame 16 and this frame, as seen in FIGS. l-3 of the drawings, is formed of a pair of parallel supporting

plates

54 and 56. The

plates

54 and 56 are attached to the printing head 14, as at 58 and 59, and are maintained in spaced, parallel relationship by means of the clevis 60 and spacer block 62. Clevis 60 is fixed in place by means of the bolt 59 and a pin 64 while block 62 is held in place by rivets 66. It will also be noted that clevis 60 is provided with a camming surface 61 positioned in opposition to and for engagement with the cam surface 50 of feeder frame 40. The printing head supporting frame 16 is pivotally mounted between the

side plates

24 and 26 by means of the pivot pin to permit pivotal movement of the printing head 14 towards and away from the printing platen 72 which is also fixed between the

side plates

24 and 26. A pair of

extension members

74 and 75 are bolted to the front end of the side plates and pivotally mount the ink pad carriage 76 for pivotal movement in a manner to be described. A pair of

springs

78 and 80 are attached at their opposite ends to the printing head 14 and ink pad carriage 76 and tend to urge the ink pad 81 carried thereby into contact with printing indicia 82 carried by the printing head.

The forward end of the printing platen 72 carries a turning bar 84 about which the strip of labels is reversely bent as it is fed through the labelling machine to cause the backing strip to be stripped from the pressure sensitive labels carried thereby. Immediately to the rear of the turning bar is an indexing mechanism 86 which is pivotally mounted, as at 88 and bears at its forward end a pair of claw like members 89. As will be noted from FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings, to the rear of its pivotal connection 88 to the

side plates

24 and 26 the indexing mechanism 86 is positioned oppositely the camming surface 90 mounted on the feed frame 40, and the supporting plate 54 bears a rack 91 engageable with the teeth of the pinion 44. FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings also show the positioning of the actuating means 92 of the drive section 20 within the hollow handle 12 formed by the upper and

lower handle sections

28 and 29.

The actuating means 92, as best seen in FIGS. 6-10 of the drawings consists of a housing 93 formed of a first cylinder tube 94, a second or valve tube and a third or inlet tube 96, all held together in fixed relationship to each other by a hardenable material such as a synthetic resinous material 97.

Tubes

94 and 95 are provided with inlet and

outlet openings

98 and 99, respectively, communicating with each other through the ports 100 formed in the hardenable material 97.

Tube 95, in addition to the outlet openings 99, is provided with an opening 101 which communicates with an opening 102 in an enlarged portion 103 of the inlet tube 96. The enlarged portion 103 of the tube 96, as best seen in FIG. 10 of the drawings, is concavely shaped to engage the external surface of the tube 95 so that these two members can be brought into closely contacting relationship and held in position by the hardenable material 97 to provide free communication from the interior of the tube 96 to the interior of the tube 95. Tube 96, at its end opposite the enlarged portion 103 is provided with a second enlarged portion 104 internally threaded for a fitting 105 (see FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings).

A piston 106 is slidably received in the cylinder 94 and carries a pair of cup-type seals 107 between an upstanding central flange 108 and a pair of aperatured outer flanges 109. An end cap 110 is threadably received in a screw-threaded opening 111 of the housing 93, retaining within the cylinder a spring 112 which urges the piston 106 to the right as seen in FIG. 6 of the drawings. A piston rod 113 is attached to the piston 106 and extends outwardly through a central opening formed in the end cap 110 with an O-ring ll4.seated in a groove in the end cap and engaging the exterior surface of the piston rod.

The valve tube 95 slidably receives a spool valve 1 having annularly shaped lands 116 positioned inwardly of its ends. The spool valve is urged to the left as seen in FIG. 6 by means of a spring 117 seated in one .end of the spool valve and in a pocket 118 formed in housing 93 and having a vent opening 119 therefrom.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 11 of the drawings an upstanding portion 120 of a linkage mechanism 122 is engagable by a spool valve extension 123 threadably received in the spool valve. Linkage mechanism 122, as best seen in FIG. 11 of the drawings, is substantially U- shaped in configuration including a pair of spaced

parallel legs

124 and 126, a bight portion 128 and inturned ends 130. A U-shaped applicator frame 140, including spaced,

parallel legs

142 and 144 and an interconnecting bight portion 146 is joumalled, as at 148, to the

extension

74 and 75 of the

side plates

24 and 26.

At their distal ends the

leg portions

142 and 144 are apertured to receive the inturned ends 130 of the

legs

124 and 126 and, at a point intermediate their ends and the bight portion 146, the

legs

142 and 144 journal an applicator which can be in the form of a roll 150, although, it will be apparent that the applicator can take other forms such as foot or presser plate or presser fingers. It will also be seen that intermediate the printing platen 72 and the idler roller 52 mechanism, referenced in its entirety by the numeral 152, is positioned to properly tension the label backing strip to prevent undesired slack in material being fed through the labelling machine.

As noted above, the labelling machine of the present invention incorporates advantageous features of the la- .belling machine described in Pat. No. 3,440,123. Thus, a roll of pressure sensitive labels adhered to a continuous backing strip is mounted between the

upstanding arms

32 and 34 by means of the

discs

36 and 38 carried by these arms and a strip of labels is passed downwardly between the guide chute 154 and the printing platen 72, thence around the turning and stripping bar 84, then to the rear and upwardly between the drive and

idler rollers

48 and 52 respectively.

Unlike the prior art mechanism, however, it is unnecessary to apply manual power to a pair of opposed handles to actuate the printing head and the drive mechanism, nor are three separate movements necessary, namely, squeezing the handle together to print a label, releasing the pressure on the handles to advance the printed label, and wiping the printed label on the arti-.

cle. Instead, the labelling machine, with a printed label 159 positioned opposite the applicator roll 150, is placed in contact with an article to be labelled, indicated by the reference numeral 160 in FIG. 12 of the drawings.

As the label is applied in a single wiping action by the applicator roll 150, the roll 150 and the associated frame 140 pivot about pivotal connection 148, driving the

legs

124 and 126 and the upstanding central portion 120 rearwardly against the pressure of spring 117 of the spool valve. This causes the spool valve to shift to the left as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings, causing fluid under pressure to be admitted to the left hand side of the piston 106 driving the piston to the right as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, and actuating the printing and drive mechanism.

Forward movement of the piston rod 113 is transmitted by block 161 mounted on the end of the piston rod and causes the clevis 60 to pivot the supporting frame 16 about its pivot point 70, driving the printing head 14 downwardly towards the printing platen 72. The ink pad carriage 76 carrying the pad 80, having applied ink to the characters 82 carried by the printing head, is deflected out of the path of travel of the printing head 14 by means of the cams 162 carried on either side of the printing head 14 in opposition to the camming surfaces 164 on the opposed legs of the carriage 76.

Continued downward movement of the printing head 14 causes the inked indicia 82 to provide the desired printing on a label positioned at that time on the printing platen 72. It will also be noted that as the supporting frame 16 moves downwardly the cam surface 61 of the clevis 60 engages the opposed cam surface of the drive frame, pivoting it downwardly about the pivot point 42 and causing the cams 92 to engage the rearward ends of the indexing mechanism 86 to lift the claw like members 90 from engagement with regularly spaced notches in the strip of backing labels, all as explained in detail in the above noted Pat. No. 3,440,123.

Once a printed label has been applied to an article 160 the labelling machine is retracted therefrom, allowing the spring biased extension 123 of valve 115 to press forward, pivoting the frame 140 to its initial position and directing pressurized fluid to the front side of the piston 106. This of course, causes the supporting frame 16 and printing head 14 to pivot upwardly from the position shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings to that shown in FIG. 1.

It should be noted that the initial downward movement of the supporting frame 16 caused the rack 94 carried by the side supporting frame 54 to engage the pinion 44. However, the pinion 44 is connected to the feed wheel 48 by the gear and one way clutch mechanism 46, which permits only counter clockwise (as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3) rotation of the pinion 44 to be transmitted to the feed wheel 48. Therefore, the initial downward movement of the rack 94 and the resulting clockwise rotation of the pinion 44 has no effect upon the feed wheel 48. However, as the rack 94 moves upwardly due to the upward movement of the supporting frame 16, the resulting counter clockwise movement of the pinion 44 is transmitted to the feed wheel 48 causing this wheel to rotate in a clockwise manner as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings in driving relationship with idler 52.

It will also be noted that the upward movement of the side supporting frame 16 releases the pressure exerted on the index mechanism 86 by the cams 89 on the feeder frame 40 so that the claw like members 89 thereof rest once again on the backing strip moving through the labelling machine. Therefore, when the ends 89 of the indexing mechanism come to a notch in the strip they drop downwardly, camming the feed wheel 48 upwardly out of driving relationship with the idler roll 52 to discontinue further movement of the label strip through the labelling machine and provide precise indexing of the labelling strip therethrough.

With reference now to FIGS. l315 of the drawings a second preferred embodiment of piston and cylinder mechanism and control valve therefor will be described. The assembly 170, as seen in FIG. 13 of the drawings, is similar in many respects to assembly 92 described above. Thus, the assembly 170 includes a housing 172 consisting of a first or cylinder tube 174, an inlet tube, not shown, but the same as the inlet tube 96 of FIGS. 6-10 of the drawings, and a valve section, referenced in its entirety by the numeral 176.

Within the cylinder 174 a piston 178 is slidably received and carries a pair of cup-type seals 180 between an upstanding central flange 182 and a pair of spaced apertured end flanges 184. An end cap 186 is threadably received in one end of the housing and compresses a spring 188 which tends to urge the piston 178 to the right as seen in FIG. 13 of the drawings. The end cap 186 is centrally apertured and slidably receives a piston rod 190 which also passes through the O-ring type seal 192.

However, whereas the assembly of FIGS. 610 of the drawings utilized a second tube fixed in place by the hardenable material as the valve tube, the embodiment of FIG. 13 dispenses with the valve tube and instead the valve body is formed directly in the hardenable material of the assembly. Thus, the valve body 176 is provided with a central bore 194 having shouldered portions 196 adjacent each end thereof and each of the shouldered portions receives a resilient ring member 198 which is complementarily configured to the shoulders 196 and force fitted into place.

A spool bushing 200 having a series of four equally spaced openings 202 formed therein is next frictionally fitted in place in the inner ring members 198 and a second, substantially identical pair of outer ring members 199 are then force fitted into the valve body to hold the bushings 200 into place. Just prior to the positioning of the second, outer ring members 199 within the valve body the two-piece spool valve 204 consisting of identical sections 205 is inserted into the valve body from opposite ends thereof and the threaded right hand end or stem 206 of the left-hand section of the spool valve is threaded into an internally threaded socket or shank 208 formed in the left hand end of the right hand section of the spool valve. The two sections of the spool valve are identical and carry land portions 210 which cooperate with the ring members to maintain the spool valve within the valve body and with the ring members and bushings to selectively vent pressurized fluid to opposite sides of the piston 178. Thus, it will be apparent from an inspection of FIG. 13 of the drawings that fluid under pressure admitted into the annular space between internal walls of the bore 194 and the external surface 206 of the spool valve will be directed to the left as seen in FIG. 13 of the drawings through the openings 202 of the left hand bushing 200 and thence to the left hand side of the piston, driving it to the position shown in FIG. 13 of the drawings. At the same time, the right hand land 210 of the spool valve contacts the inner right hand ring member 198 in sealing relationship therewith. Upon shifting of the spool valve to the right as seen in FIG. 13 of the drawings the left hand land member 210 will be pressed into sealing engagement with the inner left hand bushing 198 and fluid will be admitted through the openings 202 of the right hand bushing and thence, to the right hand side of the piston 178, driving it to the left in opposition to the force exerted by the spring 188. With the above construction it will be noted that not only is a positive sealing engagement provided within the valve, but that the spool valve may be formed from two identical members.

It should be noted that in each of the piston and cylinder and control valve assemblies described above a light weight yet strong construction is provided by combining the various tubes of the assemblies in a hardenable material. By integrating light weight metal tubes with a synthetic resinous or other hardenable material the weight of the assembly can be reduced to well under grams and in an actual assembly is approximately 16 grams.

Turning now to FIG. 16 of the drawings, another preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the labelling machine shown in FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings power is supplied by means of the fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder mechanism and control valve. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 16 of the drawings, power is derived from electromagnetic means illustrated as being a rotary solenoid 226. A push rod arm 220 is pivotally attached as at 222 to a crank arm 224 of the solenoid 226. The applicator which may take a variety of forms, as noted above, but is shown in the present instance as a roller 228 journalled between a pair of arms 230 which are pivotally mounted on the labeller, as at 232. A pair of contacts 234 are positioned in opposition to a rearwardly extending extension 235 of the arms 230 so that the application of a label by the applicator 228 will close the contacts 234, energizing the motor 226 and causing it to rotate in the direction of the arrow a desired amount. This causes the same sequence of the events to occur as occur upon extension of the piston rod of the embodiments of FIGS. 13. As the labeller is removed from contact with the article labelled the contacts 234 open, deenergizing the motor 226 and allowing spring 236 to retract the crank arm to the left as seen in FIG. 16 of the drawings. Current is, of course, supplied to the motor 226 from any conventional source of power as indicated by the leads 238.

Alternately, the solenoid 226 can be operated by closure of aswitch 240 which is operated by a trigger 241. The trigger 241 is engageable and operable by the users index finger. In this regard it will be noted that the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 can also be manually'actuated. Thus, a bell crank is pivotally mounted, as at 152, in the handle 12 and is provided with a bifurcated section 154 straddling the extension 123. A push buttom 156 is also received in a shouldered opening 158 in the handle 12 and bears against leg 169 of the bell crank 150. Depressing the buttom 156, therefore, it will shift the spool valve to the left as seen in FIG. 1. Releasing pressure on the button will, of course, allow spring 117 to shift the spool valve back to the right as seen in FIG. 1.

From the above it will be seen that labelling apparatus according to the present invention provides a hand held, automatic unit which requires very little muscular exertion, coordination or physical dexterity and permits the printing, dispensing and application of labels with a simple wiping action.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A piston-cylinder and control valve assembly, comprising: a tubular member defining a cylinder having first and second openings formed through the wall thereof at spaced-apart locations, a piston slidably received in the cylinder, the cylinder openings being disposed to enable the piston to be driven in either of two directions in the cylinder, an inlet tube having an inlet opening, moldable plastics material disposed around the cylinder and the inlet tube for holding the cylinder and the inlet tube in fixed relationship with respect to each other, a bore in the plastics material communicating with the atmosphere, the bore having shoulders, two pairs of spaced-apart resilient ring members received in the bore, one ring member of each pair being disposed against a respective shoulder, a separate spool bushing received and held by each pair of ring members, the bushings having respective first and second valve openings, passages through the plastics material providing communication between the first and second valve openings adjacent respective shoulders and the respective first and second cylinder openings, the bore having an inlet opening between the first and second valve openings communicating with the inlet tube, and a positionable spool valve comprised of two identical sections secured to each other, each section having a land cooperating with the respective spool bushing, the lands being disposed relative to the respective valve openings to alternately 1) provide communication between the inlet opening, the first valve opening and the first cylinder opening to drive the piston in one direction and to vent one side of the cylinder through the second cylinder opening and the second valve opening to the atmosphere and (2) provide communication between the inlet opening, the second valve opening and the second cylinder opening to drive the piston in the other direction and to vent the other side of the cylinder through the first cylinder opening and the first valve opening to the atmosphere.

2. A piston-cylinder and control valve assembly,

comprising: a tubular member defining a cylinder having first and second openings formed through the wall thereof at spaced-apart locations, a piston slidably received in the cylinder, the cylinder openings being disposed to enable the piston to be driven in either of two directions in the cylinder, an inlet tube having an inlet opening, moldable plastics material disposed around the cylinder and the inlet tube for holding the cylinder and the inlet tube in fixed relationship with respect to each other, an elongated bore in the plastics material communicating with the atmosphere, spool bushing means disposed in the bore, the bushing means having first and second valve openings spaced apart in the elongated direction of the bore, passages through the plastics material providing communication between the first and second valve openings and the respective first and second cylinder openings, and a positionable spool valve comprised of two identical sections secured to each other, each section having a land cooperating with the bushing means, the lands being disposed relative to the valve openings to alternately l provide communication between the inlet opening, the first valve opening and the first cylinder opening to drive the piston in one direction and to vent one side of the cylinder through the second cylinder opening and the second valve opening to the atmosphere and (2) provide communication between the inlet opening, the second valve opening and the second cylinder opening to drive the piston in the other direction and to vent the other side of the cylinder through the first cylinder opening and the first valve opening to the atmosphere.

3. A piston-cylinder and control valve assembly, comprising: a tubular member defining a cylinder having first and second openings formed through the wall thereof at spaced-apart locations, a piston slidably received in the cylinder, the cylinder openings being disposed to enable the piston to be driven in either of two directions of the cylinder, moldable plastics material disposed around the cylinder and having an elongated bore communicating with the atmosphere, the bore having an inlet opening, spool bushing means disposed in the bore, the bushing means having first and second valve openings spaced apart in the elongated direction of the bore, passages through the plastics material providing communication between the first and second valve openings and the respective first and second cylinder openings, and a positionable spool valve comprised of two identical sections secured to each other, each section having a land cooperating with the bush- 1 ing means, a hollow shank extending from one side of the land, and a stem extending from the other side of the land, the stern of the one spool valve section being received in the shank of the other spool valve section, the lands being disposed relative to the valve openings to alternately (1) provide communication between the inlet opening, the first valve opening and the first cylinder opening to drive the piston in one direction and to vent one side of the cylinder through the second cylinder opening and the second valve opening to the atmosphere and (2) provide communication between the inlet opening, the second valve opening and the second cylinder opening to drive the piston in the other direction and to vent the other side of the cylinder through the first cylinder opening and the first valve opening to the atmosphere.

4. A piston-cylinder and control valve assembly, comprising: a tubular member defining a cylinder having first and second openings formed through the wall thereof at spaced-apart locations, a piston slidably received in the cylinder, the cylinder openings being disposed to enable the piston to be driven in either of two directions in the cylinder, moldable plastics material disposed around the cylinder and having an elongated bore communicating with the atmosphere, the bore having an inlet opening, spool bushing means disposed in the bore, the bushing means having first and second valve openings spaced apart in the elongated direction of the bore, passages through the plastics material providing communication between the first and second valve openings and the respective first and second cylinder openings, and a positionable spool valve comprised of two identical sections secured to each other,

each section having a land cooperating with the bushing means, a hollow shank extending from one side of the land and having an internally threaded socket and a threaded stem extending from the other side of the land, the stern of the one spool valve section being threadably received in the shank of the other spool valve section, the lands being disposed relative to the valve openings to alternately (1) provide communication between the inlet opening, the first valve opening and the first cylinder opening to drive the piston in one direction and to vent one side of the cylinder through the second cylinder opening and the second valve opening to the atmosphere and (2) provide communication between the inlet opening, the second valve opening and the second cylinder opening to drive the piston in the other direction and to vent the other side of the cylinder through the first cylinder opening and the first valve opening to the atmosphere.

5. A piston-cylinder and control valve assembly, comprising: a tubular member defining a cylinder having first and second openings formed through the wall thereof at spaced-apart locations, a piston slidably received in the cylinder, the cylinder openings being disposed to enable the piston to be driven in either of two directions in the cylinder, moldable plastics material disposed around the cylinder and having an elongated bore communicating with the atmosphere, the bore having an inlet opening, spool bushing means disposed in the bore, the bushing means having first and second valve openings spaced apart in the elongated direction of the bore, passages through the plastics material providing communication between the first and second valve openings and the respective first and second cylinder openings, a positionable spool valve having lands cooperating with the bushing means, the lands being disposed relative to the valve openings to alternately 1) provide communication between the inlet opening, the first valve opening and the first cylinder opening to drive the piston in one direction and to vent one side of the cylinder through the second cylinder opening and the second cylinder opening, through the other valve opening to the atmosphere and (2) provide communication between the inlet opening, the second valve opening and the second cylinder opening to drive the piston in the other direction and to vent the other side of the cylinder through the first cylinder opening and the first valve opening to the atmosphere, and means for both completely mounting the bushing means in the bore and for providing a seal against the lands.

6. A piston-cylinder and valve assembly, comprising: a tube defining a cylinder, a piston slidable in the tube, moldable plastics material disposed around the tube and having an elongated bore, at least one opening providing communication between the bore and the tube, a spool valve having lands disposed in the bore, spool bushing means disposed in the bore and having valve openings cooperating with the lands, and resilient means disposed between the bore and the bushing means for completely mounting and sealing the bushing means in the bore and for providing a seal against the spool valve at the ends of the respective lands.

7. An assembly as defined in 'claim 6, wherein the spool bushing means comprises a pair of spaced apart spool bushings, the resilient mounting and sealing means comprising a pair of resilient ring members dis posed between each bushing and the bore, one ring member of each pair being cooperable with the valve at the one end of the respective land in one position of the valve and the other ring member of each pair being cooperable with the valve at the other end of the respective land in another position of the valve.

8. An assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein the spool bushing means comprises a pair of spaced apart spool bushings, the resilient mounting and sealing means comprising a pair of resilient ring members disposed between each bushing and the bore, one ring member of each pair being cooperable with the respective land in one position of the valve and the other ring member of each pair being cooperable with the respective land in another position of the valve, the valve having a pair of identical interconnected sections, each section comprising one of said lands, a threaded stem, and a hollow shank having a threaded socket, the stem of one section being threadably secured by the socket of the other section.

9. An assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein the valve includes a pair of identical interconnected sec-

Claims

1. A piston-cylinder and control valve assembly, comprising: a tubular member defining a cylinder having first and second openings formed through the wall thereof at spaced-apart locations, a piston slidably received in the cylinder, the cylinder openings being disposed to enable the piston to be driven in either of two directions in the cylinder, an inlet tube having an inlet opening, moldable plastics material disposed around the cylinder and the inlet tube for holding the cylinder and the inlet tube in fixed relationship with respect to each other, a bore in the plastics material communicating with the atmosphere, the bore having shoulders, two pairs of spaced-apart resilient ring members received in the bore, one ring member of each pair being disposed against a respective shoulder, a separate spool bushing received and held by each pair of ring members, the bushings having respective first and second valve openings, passages through the plastics material providing communication between the first and second valve openings adjacent respective shoulders and the respective first and second cylinder openings, the bore having an inlet opening between the first and second valve openings communicating with the inlet tube, and a positionable spool valve comprised of two identical sections secured to each other, each section having a land cooperating with the respective spool bushing, the lands being disposed relative to the respective valve openings to alternately (1) provide communication between the inlet opening, the first valve opening and the first cylinder opening to drive the piston in one direction and to vent one side of the cylinder through the second cylinder opening and the second valve opening to the atmosphere and (2) provide communication between the inlet opening, the second valve opening and the second cylinder opening to drive the piston in the other direction and to vent the other side of the cylinder through the first cylinder opening and the first valve opening to the atmosphere.

2. A piston-cylinder and control valve assembly, comprising: a tubular member defining a cylinder having first and second openings formed through the wall thereof at spaced-apart locations, a piston slidably received in the cylinder, the cylinder opEnings being disposed to enable the piston to be driven in either of two directions in the cylinder, an inlet tube having an inlet opening, moldable plastics material disposed around the cylinder and the inlet tube for holding the cylinder and the inlet tube in fixed relationship with respect to each other, an elongated bore in the plastics material communicating with the atmosphere, spool bushing means disposed in the bore, the bushing means having first and second valve openings spaced apart in the elongated direction of the bore, passages through the plastics material providing communication between the first and second valve openings and the respective first and second cylinder openings, and a positionable spool valve comprised of two identical sections secured to each other, each section having a land cooperating with the bushing means, the lands being disposed relative to the valve openings to alternately (1) provide communication between the inlet opening, the first valve opening and the first cylinder opening to drive the piston in one direction and to vent one side of the cylinder through the second cylinder opening and the second valve opening to the atmosphere and (2) provide communication between the inlet opening, the second valve opening and the second cylinder opening to drive the piston in the other direction and to vent the other side of the cylinder through the first cylinder opening and the first valve opening to the atmosphere.

3. A piston-cylinder and control valve assembly, comprising: a tubular member defining a cylinder having first and second openings formed through the wall thereof at spaced-apart locations, a piston slidably received in the cylinder, the cylinder openings being disposed to enable the piston to be driven in either of two directions of the cylinder, moldable plastics material disposed around the cylinder and having an elongated bore communicating with the atmosphere, the bore having an inlet opening, spool bushing means disposed in the bore, the bushing means having first and second valve openings spaced apart in the elongated direction of the bore, passages through the plastics material providing communication between the first and second valve openings and the respective first and second cylinder openings, and a positionable spool valve comprised of two identical sections secured to each other, each section having a land cooperating with the bushing means, a hollow shank extending from one side of the land, and a stem extending from the other side of the land, the stem of the one spool valve section being received in the shank of the other spool valve section, the lands being disposed relative to the valve openings to alternately (1) provide communication between the inlet opening, the first valve opening and the first cylinder opening to drive the piston in one direction and to vent one side of the cylinder through the second cylinder opening and the second valve opening to the atmosphere and (2) provide communication between the inlet opening, the second valve opening and the second cylinder opening to drive the piston in the other direction and to vent the other side of the cylinder through the first cylinder opening and the first valve opening to the atmosphere.

4. A piston-cylinder and control valve assembly, comprising: a tubular member defining a cylinder having first and second openings formed through the wall thereof at spaced-apart locations, a piston slidably received in the cylinder, the cylinder openings being disposed to enable the piston to be driven in either of two directions in the cylinder, moldable plastics material disposed around the cylinder and having an elongated bore communicating with the atmosphere, the bore having an inlet opening, spool bushing means disposed in the bore, the bushing means having first and second valve openings spaced apart in the elongated direction of the bore, passages through the plastics material providing communication between the first and second vaLve openings and the respective first and second cylinder openings, and a positionable spool valve comprised of two identical sections secured to each other, each section having a land cooperating with the bushing means, a hollow shank extending from one side of the land and having an internally threaded socket and a threaded stem extending from the other side of the land, the stem of the one spool valve section being threadably received in the shank of the other spool valve section, the lands being disposed relative to the valve openings to alternately (1) provide communication between the inlet opening, the first valve opening and the first cylinder opening to drive the piston in one direction and to vent one side of the cylinder through the second cylinder opening and the second valve opening to the atmosphere and (2) provide communication between the inlet opening, the second valve opening and the second cylinder opening to drive the piston in the other direction and to vent the other side of the cylinder through the first cylinder opening and the first valve opening to the atmosphere.

5. A piston-cylinder and control valve assembly, comprising: a tubular member defining a cylinder having first and second openings formed through the wall thereof at spaced-apart locations, a piston slidably received in the cylinder, the cylinder openings being disposed to enable the piston to be driven in either of two directions in the cylinder, moldable plastics material disposed around the cylinder and having an elongated bore communicating with the atmosphere, the bore having an inlet opening, spool bushing means disposed in the bore, the bushing means having first and second valve openings spaced apart in the elongated direction of the bore, passages through the plastics material providing communication between the first and second valve openings and the respective first and second cylinder openings, a positionable spool valve having lands cooperating with the bushing means, the lands being disposed relative to the valve openings to alternately (1) provide communication between the inlet opening, the first valve opening and the first cylinder opening to drive the piston in one direction and to vent one side of the cylinder through the second cylinder opening and the second cylinder opening, through the other valve opening to the atmosphere and (2) provide communication between the inlet opening, the second valve opening and the second cylinder opening to drive the piston in the other direction and to vent the other side of the cylinder through the first cylinder opening and the first valve opening to the atmosphere, and means for both completely mounting the bushing means in the bore and for providing a seal against the lands.

7. An assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein the spool bushing means comprises a pair of spaced apart spool bushings, the resilient mounting and sealing means comprising a pair of resilient ring members disposed between each bushing and the bore, one ring member of each pair being cooperable with the valve at the one end of the respective land in one position of the valve and the other ring member of each pair being cooperable with the valve at the other end of the respective land in another position of the valve.

9. An assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein the valve includes a pair of identical interconnected sections.