Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6447185
-
Patent Number
6,447,185
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, November 29, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, September 10, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Hirshfeld; Andrew H.
- Crenshaw; Marvin P.
Agents
- Ostrolenk, Faber, Gerb & Soffen, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 400 613
- 400 174
- 400 88
- 101 93
- 101 288
-
International Classifications
- B41J1126
- B41J4746
- B41J156
-
Abstract
A core holding device of a label sticking machine capable of assuredly holding a roll-shaped label or a core thereof, simplifying an operation for installing and removal thereof, and forming it simple and compact. Characterized in that core holding members for holding the roll-shaped label are of a rotating type, each of the core holding members is energized by a spring, a pair of spring plates and the pair of core holding knob members are installed between right and left side plates.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a label roll core holder in a labeler, particularly to a label roll core holder for holding a label roll and feeding out a label strip for label attachment, a label retraining and guiding system of a printing labeler for pressing a continuous label strip guided over a platen disposed opposite a label printer in the direction of the platen, and a label roll protective cover device.
BACKGROUND ART
Substantially all conventional labelers have label printing capability in addition to labeling capability. The label roll core holder of a labeler is required to have the following characteristics.
The first required characteristic is the ability to reliably hold the label roll and the core thereof. In particular, it is necessary to reliably hold the core under various circumstances, such as during labeler transport and use and when the label roll is changed. When the labeler is being transported after shipment from the labeler plant, for example, the packaged labeler is generally loaded with a sample label roll. The label roll must therefore be made safe from detachment from the core holder by shocks experienced during transport and handling. Further, during labeler use, the labeler is operated in the manner of swinging it downward during label printing operation and label attachment operation and the amount of operating force and shock at the time of attachment differs depending on the user. Even if the operating force differs, it is necessary to cope accordingly so as to hold the label roll stably.
The second required characteristic is that the label roll be easy to load and remove. When the label roll has been used up, only the core remains in the core holder. The operations of removing the core and loading a new label roll must of course be simple. In addition, even in the course of use, a problem may occur that makes it necessary to remove the label roll for inspection or to replace it.
Even under trouble-free condition, the label roll may have to be replaced with one of a different design.
Needless to say, the first characteristic and the second characteristic are incompatible and a core holder that can provide both is needed.
There has also been a problem with the guiding and restraining section for the leading end of the label strip.
A general explanation of a conventional portable printing labeler
101
will be given with reference to FIG.
13
.
FIG. 13
is a schematic vertical sectional view of the portable printing labeler
101
. The printing labeler
101
comprises a pair of left and right side plates
102
, a label case
103
, a printer
104
, a conveyance roller
105
, a label presser
106
, a platen
107
, a pair of left and right label guide pieces
108
provided above the platen
107
, a deflection member
109
constituted as a deflection pin or the like, a bottom cover
110
and a labeling roller
111
. The pair of left and right label guide pieces
108
, the deflection member
109
, and the bottom cover
110
constitute a label restraining and guiding system
112
.
The aforesaid members are retained between the pair of left and right side plates
102
by shaft-mounting or direct attachment. The label case
103
holds a continuous label strip
113
in the form of a roll and can feed out the continuous label strip
113
to supply it between the label presser
106
and the conveyance roller
105
, and further between pair of left and right label guide pieces
108
and the platen
107
.
The continuous label strip
113
is composed of a strip-like backing sheet
114
having a label peel-off layer and multiple labels
115
provisionally attached to the backing sheet
114
.
The printer
104
effects prescribed printing on the portion of the continuous label strip
113
(label
115
) located on the platen
107
. Printing operation is conducted by manipulating a handle (not shown) operated by swinging it relative to the side plates
102
.
Conveyance projections
116
are provided on the peripheral surface of the conveyance roller
105
to be engageable with the continuous label strip
113
supplied between the conveyance roller
105
and the label presser
106
. When the printer
104
is moved downward by the aforesaid handle operation (operation of printing on the label
115
), the conveyance roller
105
rotates synchronously around a rotation shaft
117
to feed out the continuous label strip
113
in the direction of the platen
107
, peel off the label
115
at the deflection member
109
located at the tip of the platen
107
, and further feed the backing sheet
114
from which the label
115
was peeled to the rear. The platen
107
allows passage of the continuous label strip
113
on its front side and of the label
115
on its rear side and serves as a plate for the printing of the continuous label strip
113
(label
115
) by the printer
104
.
The pair of left and right label guide pieces
108
are made of a metal such as iron and are fixed on the inner sides of the side plates
102
to be position above the platen
107
. Each label guide piece
108
is composed of a platen-side flat guide section
118
and a deflection member-side inclined section
119
. The platen-side flat guide sections
118
face the platen
107
from above and guide the left and right edge portions of the continuous label strip
113
by pressing them toward the platen
107
.
The deflection member-side inclined section
119
is inclined downward slightly at the tip of the platen-side flat guide section
118
.
The deflection member
109
is mounted at the tip of the platen
107
. Only the backing sheet
114
of the continuous label strip
113
is turned back at the deflection member
109
and the label
115
peels off the backing sheet
114
owing to its own stiffness to be positioned under the labeling roller
111
.
The labeling roller
111
is supported to be rotatable around a rotation shaft
120
to enable attachment of labels
115
to the objects to be labeled (not shown). The bottom cover
110
has a sloped guide portion
121
at the tip thereof facing the deflection member
109
.
The continuous label strip
113
passes along the platen-side flat guide sections
118
and the deflection member-side inclined sections
119
of the label guide pieces
108
and from the sloped guide portion
121
and the surface of the bottom cover
110
. It can make a U-turn at the portion of the deflection member
109
, thereby enabling the label
115
to peel from the backing sheet
114
.
The platen
107
can swing open counterclockwise around the rotation shaft
117
as seen in the drawing, and the bottom cover
110
can swing open clockwise around the rotation shaft
120
as seen in the drawing. When the bottom cover
110
and the platen
107
have been swung open, continuous label strip
113
can be loaded in the printing labeler
101
.
As explained in the foregoing, in order to effect smooth peeling of the label
115
from the backing sheet
114
in the foregoing manner, the label restraining and guiding system
112
restrains the continuous label strip
113
in the direction of the platen
107
and guides it in the direction of the deflection member
109
.
In the portable printing labeler
101
and label restraining and guiding system
112
of this structure, the pair of left and right label guide pieces
108
and the deflection member-side inclined sections
119
of the platen-side flat guide sections
118
are repeatedly abraded by the continuous label strip
113
owing to successive conveyance and peeling of the continuous label strip
113
. They therefore wear and require replacement.
Although the pair of left and right label guide pieces
108
are themselves made of metal so as to enhance their abrasion resistance, they are joined to the inner surfaces of the pair of left and right side plates
102
and are difficult to replace at the time of actual replacement. In actual practice, they are replaced with new components as a whole together with the side plates
102
. This need to replace large components in their entirety only for the purpose of replacing small components like the label guide pieces
108
is a problem in terms of cost. U.S. Pat. No. 4,142,932 teaches a structure in which components corresponding to the label guide pieces
108
are made detachable from the pair of left and right side plates
102
. At the time of replacing the label guide pieces, however, the side plates
102
have to be completely detached and disassembled in their entireties, whereafter reassembly is necessary. Poor efficiency is therefore a problem.
The present invention was accomplished in light of the foregoing problems and has as its object to provide a label roll core holder in a labeler, that can reliably hold a label roll and the core thereof.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a label roll core holder in a labeler, which simplifies the work of loading and the work of removing the label roll.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a label roll core holder in a labeler, that can be simply and compactly configured in a small space.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a label restraining and guiding system in a labeler, that enables the work of replacing label guide pieces to be carried out simply.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a label restraining and guiding system in a labeler, that enables the label guide pieces to be replaced alone without replacing the pair of left and right side plates in their entirety.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a label restraining and guiding system in a labeler, that at the time of replacing the label guide pieces enables the replacement work to be conducted efficiently with no need to detach and disassemble the pair of left and right side plates in their entirety.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective cover which, when in the closed state, prevents the label roll from being inadvertently removed from the core holder even if an operation is attempted to move it in the core removal direction.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Specifically, in a labeler that focuses on constituting core holding members for holding the label roll (core holding lug members) to be of pivoting type and on spring biasing the pivoting type core holding members, that has a pair of left and right side plates and a label roll conveyance path formed between the side plates and that feeds the label roll through the conveyance path as a strip to attach labels, the present invention provides a label roll core holder in a first labeler characterized in having a pair of left and right spring plates provided to face each other across a label holding space between the pair of left and right side plates and, at tips of the spring plates, a pair of left and right core holding lug members for holding the label roll, the core holding lug members each having a rotation shaft, a core holding portion adapted for holding the label roll and located nearer the label holding space than the rotation shaft, and a lug portion that is located on the opposite side of the rotation shaft from the core holding portion and projects outward of the side plate, and the spring plates being capable of supporting the core holding portions of the core holding lug members in a core holding attitude.
Auxiliary springs can be provided for supplementing the biasing force of the spring plates.
The core holding portions of the left and right core holding lug members can be given identical shapes.
The core holding portions of the left and right core holding lug members can be given different shapes.
Core retaining projections can be formed on the core holding portions of the core holding lug members.
The spring plates can be provided at locations thereof apart from said tips toward their middle portions with retaining projection portions capable of holding the core in cooperation with the core holding portions.
The label roll core holder in a labeler according the present invention is provided with the pair of left and right spring plates and the pair of left and right core holding lug members elastically biased by the spring plates. The core can therefore be held by the core holding portions of the core holding lug members and the core can be removed by operating the lug portions located on the opposite side from the core holding portion.
The label roll can be loaded by forcibly pushing it between the pair of left and right core holding lug members so as to drive it between the core holding lug members against the biasing force of the spring plates. When the label roll has been pushed inward until the hollow center portion of its core reaches the location of the core holding portions, the core holding lug members are restored to their original positions (the core holding attitude) by the biasing force of the spring plates, thereby holding the label roll.
When the label roll has been used up or when it is to be changed before being completely used, the lug portions of the core holding lug members are operated so as to pivot and tilt them as a whole and thereby form a gap sufficient for extraction of the label roll. The core can therefore be easily removed. Otherwise, the entire labeler can be turned upside down to remove the label roll from the core holder by dint of its own weight, without need for any special operation.
Further, in a label restraining and guiding system of a printing labeler that focuses on enabling a label guide piece to be constituted not as separate left and right bodies but as one of a unitary and replaceable type and on forming engagement grooves for detachably engaging the label guide piece in inner wall surfaces of a pair of left and right side plates and that has a deflection member for turning back only the backing sheet of a continuous label strip composed of a backing sheet having a label peel-off layer and a plurality of labels provisionally attached to the backing sheet to thereby peel the labels from the backing sheet, a platen that supports lateral end portions of the deflection member, a pair of left and right side plates that support the platen, and a label guide piece that faces the platen and guides the continuous label strip toward the deflection member, the present invention provides a label restraining and guiding system in a second labeler characterized in that the label guide piece integrally has a pair of left and right engagement flange portions engageable with a pair of left and right engagement grooves formed in the pair of left and right side plates, a stop portion that connects upstream ends of the engagement flange portions, and a deflection guide portion that connects downstream ends of the engagement flange portions, and that a surface of the platen faces a vacant space enclosed by the engagement flange portions, the stop portion and the deflection guide portion.
The label guide piece can be formed to be laterally symmetrical.
Projecting portions projecting inward of the side plates can be formed on the side plates above the engagement grooves.
The stop portion of the label guide piece can be formed substantially perpendicular to a plane including the engagement flange portions.
The label guide piece can be formed of synthetic resin.
The label restraining and guiding system of a printing labeler according to the present invention does not have a pair of separate left and right label guide pieces but is constituted as a replaceable insertion type unit, and engagement grooves for engagement by the label guide piece are formed in the inner wall surfaces of the pair of left and right side plates. Only slight spreading of the pair of left and right side plates enables the label guide piece to be inserted therebetween. Once the label guide piece has been fitted into the engagement grooves, the pair of left and right side plates are then reassembled in this state and fastened by tightening bolts or the like.
When the label guide piece is replaced, therefore, unlike conventionally, there is no need to entirely replace the pair of left and right side plates with new ones or to entirely detach and disassemble the pair of left and right side plates. Rather, the label guide piece can be fixed in the prescribed location merely by loosening the bolts and slightly spreading the side plates. The work of replacing the label guide piece is therefore very simple and can be conducted at low cost.
The label guide piece need not be made of metal as is the conventional practice but can instead be made of synthetic resin or other such inexpensive material.
Moreover, the protective cover device according to the present invention effectively prevents inadvertent removal of the label roll from the core holder even if an operation is effected in the core removal direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a schematic sectional side view of a labeler
1
equipped with a label roll L core holder
2
according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2
is an exploded sectional view of an essential portion of the core holder
2
.
FIG. 3
is a vertical sectional view of the same.
FIG. 4
is a vertical sectional view similar to that of
FIG. 3
showing the case of loading a label roll L into the core holder
2
and of removing the label roll L or its core C
1
therefrom.
FIG. 5
is a vertical sectional similar to that of
FIG. 3
showing the state after loading.
FIG. 6
is a vertical sectional view similar to that of
FIG. 3
showing a core holder
40
that is a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7
is a vertical sectional view similar to that of
FIG. 3
showing a core holder
50
that is a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8
is an exploded perspective view of an essential portion of a portable printing labeler
130
equipped with a label restraining and guiding system
131
that is an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9
is a vertical sectional view of the label restraining and guiding system
131
portion taken perpendicular to the conveyance direction of a continuous label strip
113
and showing the state before a label guide piece
132
(engagement flange portions
134
) are engaged with engagement grooves
133
.
FIG. 10
is a similar vertical sectional view showing the state after the label guide piece
132
(engagement flange portions
134
) are engaged with the engagement grooves
133
.
FIG. 11
is a vertical sectional view of the label restraining and guiding system
131
portion taken perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the continuous label strip
113
and showing the relationship among the label guide piece
132
, a platen
107
and a bottom cover
110
.
FIG. 12
is a vertical sectional view of the label restraining and guiding system
131
portion taken parallel to the conveyance direction of the continuous label strip
113
.
FIG. 13
is a schematic vertical sectional view of a portable printing labeler
101
equipped with a conventional label restraining and guiding system
112
.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A labeler
1
equipped with a label roll core holder that is a first embodiment of the present invention will now be explained with reference to
FIGS. 1
to
5
.
FIG. 1
is a schematic sectional side view of the labeler
1
particularly showing a core holder
2
thereof. The labeler
1
has the core holder
2
, a pair of left and right side plates
3
, an operating lever
4
, a bottom cover
5
, a label conveyance roller
6
, a printer
7
, an ink roller
8
, a labeling roller
9
, and a protective cover
10
of the core holder
2
. The printer
7
and the ink roller
8
are members installed in certain models or upon necessity.
FIG. 2
is an exploded sectional view of an essential portion of the core holder
2
and
FIG. 3
is a vertical sectional view of the same. The core holder
2
has pairs of left and right spring plates
11
, auxiliary springs
12
, and core holding lug members
13
.
Each spring plate
11
has a shaft mounting portion
14
, a yoke-like shaft-supported arm
15
branching from the shaft mounting portion
14
and extending to the region of the core holding lug members
13
, and an elastic abutment arm
16
.
The shaft mounting portions
14
are fixed to the side plates
3
by a transverse mounting shaft
17
so that the spring plates
11
are installed in parallel with the side plates
3
so as to leave therebetween a label holding space
18
of prescribed width that, for example, enables a label roll L that is a wound paper tube (see
FIG. 1
or
5
) to enter between the left and right side plates
3
.
The auxiliary springs
12
, constituted as coil springs, are for supplementing the biasing force of the spring plates
11
, particularly the elastic abutment arms
16
, and, together with the spring plates
11
, manifest an overall biasing force in the direction of the label holding space
18
.
Each core holding lug member
13
is composed of a rotation shaft
20
rotatably engaged with a bearing portion
19
at the tip of the yoke-like shaft-supported arm
15
of the associated spring plate
11
, a core holding portion
21
facing toward the label holding space
18
from the rotation shaft
20
, and a lug portion
22
located on the opposite side of the rotation shaft
20
from the core holding portion
21
and projecting outward of the associated side plate
3
.
Round engagement holes
19
A are formed in the bearing portion
19
supporting the core holding lug member
13
of each spring plate
11
. The end portions of the rotation shaft
20
on opposite sides of the core holding lug member
13
are firmly engaged with the engagement holes
19
A.
The engagement holes
19
A can be given the shape of the letter U lying on its side. This simplifies mounting of the core holding lug members
13
but entails a risk of the core holding lug members
13
falling out during transport.
A tip abutment portion
23
formed at the tip of each elastic abutment arm
16
abuts on a rear surface abutment portion
24
of the associated core holding portion
21
(see
FIG. 3
) and causes the core holding lug member
13
to project perpendicularly with respect to the side plates
3
(to assume the core holding attitude wherein it projects laterally into the label holding space
18
).
The rear surface abutment portion
24
and the tip abutment portion
23
abut such that the tip abutment portion
23
can elastically deform and the two members can slide in contact with each other. Specifically, the tip abutment portion,
23
makes contact with the rear surface abutment portion.
24
from the side of rotation shaft
20
toward the tip end of the core holding portion
21
so as to be capable of exerting a biasing force. As the core holding portion
21
(the core holding lug member
13
) rotates into the inclined core removal attitude, the elastic abutment arm
16
and the auxiliary spring
12
accumulate deformation energy. When the lug portion
22
is released, they restore the core holding lug member
13
to its original position (the core holding attitude).
The front surface at the tip of each core holding portion
21
constitutes a core holding surface
25
and a core restraining projection
26
is formed on the rotation shaft
20
side of the core holding surface
25
. Specifically, the label roll L and a core C
1
can be stably held between the left and right core restraining projections
26
without wobbling laterally.
Owing to the abutment of the tip portions of the core restraining projections
26
on the side plates
3
, the core holding attitude of the core holding lug members
13
produced by the biasing force of the elastic abutment arms
16
and the auxiliary springs
12
can be maintained.
The core holding surfaces
25
of the left and right core holding portions
21
are provided at the same height level so that they can hold the core C
1
and the label roll L parallel to the side plates
3
within the label holding space
18
.
The lug portions
22
project outward of the side plates
3
and can be operated from the outside by the fingers, for example, so as to rotate and incline the core holding portions
21
.
The yoke-shaped head portions
11
A of the pair of spring plates
11
are fitted in recesses
11
B of the side plates
3
. Specifically, each core holding lug member
13
has its head portion
11
A accommodated in the recess
11
B of the associated side plate
3
with the bearing portion
19
in the engaged state.
Owing to the adoption of this system of insetting the spring plates
11
, it is possible, particularly during assembly, to prevent the spring plates
11
from tilting inward of the labeler owing to the resilient force of the auxiliary springs
12
located between the spring plates
11
and the side plates
3
.
This is advantageous in that the screw-fastening required in conventional assembly of this type can be omitted by adopting this inset system and that assembly is easier.
The transverse mounting shaft
17
linking the side plates;
3
passes through engagement holes
14
A bored in the shaft mounting portions
14
of the spring plates
11
, and boss setting holes
15
A,
15
A of the spring plates
11
engage with positioning engagement projections
15
B,
15
B formed to project from the side plates
3
, whereby reliable engagement is established between the members of each set.
Engagement hooks
11
C are provided on the opposite sides of each yoke-like head portion
11
A. The engagement hooks
11
C make elastic engagement with engagement hook seats
11
D formed inside the recess
11
B of the associated side plate
3
.
As shown best in
FIG. 1
, the protective cover
10
has a cover body
27
for covering the label roll L retained on the side plates
3
by the core holder
2
. The cover body
27
has an arcuate portion
28
for covering the top of the label holding space
18
and a pair of semicircular portions
29
located on the left and right of the arcuate portion
28
.
The cover body
27
further has an open/close shaft
30
formed at one end thereof, a pair of hook portions
31
formed at the opposite end of the semicircular portions
29
, cover handle portions
32
formed at the base sides of the hook portions
31
, and a pair of triangular projecting pieces for locking
33
formed to project inward of the semicircular portions
29
.
The open/close shaft
30
is engaged with shaft supporting hole portions
34
of the side plates
3
(also see
FIG. 2
) and the entire protective cover
10
can be rotated in the opening and closing directions.
The hook portions
31
can engage/disengage hook engagement portions
35
of the side plates
3
to secure the cover body
27
in the closed condition. The cover body
27
can be opened by grasping the pair of cover handle portions
32
and releasing the engagement between the hook portions
31
and the hook engagement portions
35
.
As shown best in
FIGS. 1 and 3
, when the cover body
27
is closed, the projecting pieces for locking
33
engage with the rear surface abutment portions
24
of the core holding lug members
13
from the underside in
FIG. 3
, thereby preventing the core holding lug members
13
from rotating around the rotation shaft
20
to assume the tilted core removal attitude and locking the core holding lug members
13
in the core holding attitude.
Specifically, when the protective cover
10
is closed, even if the core holding lug members
13
should be operated in the direction of the core removal attitude, the label roll L will not be inadvertently removed from the core holder
2
because the core holding lug members
13
are locked by the projecting pieces for locking
33
.
The distal end portion of the arcuate portion
28
of the cover body
27
is cut away to form an opening portion
36
, and the label roll L can be fed out from the opening portion
36
in a strip-like manner to be inserted into a conveyance path
37
formed in the labeler
1
between the pair of side plates
3
.
The loading of the label roll L into the core holder
2
and the removal of the label roll L and the core C
1
therefrom will now be explained with respect to the so-configured labeler
1
and core holder
2
.
FIG. 4
is a vertical sectional view similar to that of
FIG. 3
showing the case of loading a label roll L into the core holder
2
and of removing the label roll L or its core C
1
therefrom. Similarly,
FIG. 5
is a vertical sectional view similar to that of
FIG. 3
showing the state after loading. When the protective cover
10
is opened, the engagement between the projecting pieces for locking
33
of the cover body
27
and the rear surface abutment portions
24
of the core holding lug members
13
is released. The lug portions
22
of the core holding lug members
13
can be pinched laterally with the fingers against the biasing force of the spring plates
11
(the elastic abutment arms
16
) and the auxiliary springs
12
to rotate the core holding lug members
13
around the rotation shafts
20
. By this, as shown in
FIG. 4
, the core holding lug members
13
are tilted to the left and right to enable insertion of a label roll L into the label holding space
18
.
Generally, however, the loading operation is carried out not by operating the lug portions
22
but simply by immediately pressing the label roll L against the core holding portions
21
of the core holding lug members
13
(against the core holding surfaces
25
) in the direction of the label holding space
18
to tilt the core holding lug members
13
toward the depth of the label holding space
18
. As the label roll L enters the label holding space
18
, the core holding lug members
13
readily move from their core holding attitude (
FIG. 3
) to their core removal attitude (
FIG. 4
) and then to their core holding attitude (FIG.
5
), thereby simply enabling loading in the manner of FIG.
5
.
When the label roll L or its core C
1
is to be removed from the core holder
2
, the lug portions
22
of the core holding lug members
13
are operated as shown in
FIG. 5
to open the label holding space
18
. The label roll L or the core C
1
can then be drawn out of the label holding space
18
.
In the state of
FIG. 4
, the label roll L or the core C
1
will drop out under its own weight if the whole labeler
1
is turned upside down. This enables it to be simply removed from the label holding space
18
without directly touching it.
FIG. 6
is a vertical sectional view similar to that of
FIG. 3
showing the case of loading a label roll L into the core holder
2
and of removing the label roll L or its core C
1
therefrom. In the core holder
40
, the elastic abutment arms
16
of the spring plates
11
are formed at locations inward (deeper into the label holding space
18
) from their tips (the tip abutment portions
23
) with retaining projection portions
41
that project into the label holding space
18
.
In other aspects the structure is the same as that of the core holder
2
of FIG.
3
.
The retaining projection portions
41
are provided at locations substantially corresponding to the auxiliary springs
12
on the rear side and operate in cooperation with the core holding portions
21
of the core holding lug members
13
to hold the core C
1
at its lower and upper inner surface portions, respectively.
In the so-structured core holder
40
, the core C
1
of the label roll L is reliably held not only at the portion of the lug portions
22
of the core holding lug members
13
on the upper side in
FIG. 6
but also at the retaining projection portions
41
of the elastic abutment arms
16
on the lower side. Therefore, particularly during use of the labeler
1
, when it is operated with an overall downward swinging motion, the label roll L does not bounce in the core holder
40
and detachment of the label roll L or the core C
1
from the portion of the core holding lug members
13
can be still more reliably prevented.
FIG. 7
is a vertical sectional view similar to
FIG. 3
showing a core holder
50
that is a third embodiment of the present invention. In the core holder
50
, the portions corresponding to the core holding portions
21
of the core holding lug members
13
are at each of the left and right core holding lug members constituted of a first core holder portion
51
and a second core holder portion
52
.
A first core holding surface
53
of the first core holder portion
51
and a second core holding surface
54
of the second core holder portion
52
are different in height. For instance, the first core holding surface
53
is formed to be lower in height than the second core holding surface
54
.
In other aspects the structure is the same as that of the core holder
2
of FIG.
3
.
In the so-structured core holder
50
, even if the core of the label roll L is of another type differently configured (different in inside diameter) at opposite lateral ends, such as core C
2
shown in
FIG. 7
made of, for example, synthetic resin, it can still be held horizontally in the label holding space
18
as a whole.
A portable printing labeler
130
equipped with a label restraining and guiding system that is another embodiment of the present invention will now be explained with reference to
FIGS. 8
to
12
.
Portions similar to those in
FIG. 13
are assigned the same reference symbols as those in FIG.
13
and will not be explained in detail.
FIG. 8
is an exploded perspective view of an essential portion of the portable printing labeler
130
. The essential portion of the printing labeler
130
is the same as that of the portable printing labeler
101
of
FIG. 13
except that its label restraining and guiding system
112
is an improvement on the corresponding label restraining and guiding system
112
.
The label restraining and guiding system
131
has a unitary and laterally symmetrical label guide piece
132
corresponding to the aforesaid pair of left and right label guide pieces
108
. The label guide piece
132
can be fitted into a pair of left and right engagement grooves
133
formed in inner wall surfaces of the pair of left and right side plates
102
.
The engagement grooves
133
are formed in the inner wall surfaces of the side plates
102
slightly above the platen
107
to run parallel with the conveyance direction of the continuous label strip
113
and the platen
107
. The label guide piece
132
is integrally formed of synthetic resin to comprise a pair of left and right engagement flange portions
134
, a stop portion
135
and a deflection guide portion
136
.
The pair of left and right engagement flange portions
134
fit into the pair of left and right engagement grooves
133
.
FIG. 9
is a vertical sectional view of the label restraining and guiding system
131
portion taken perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the continuous label strip
113
and showing the state before the label guide piece
132
(engagement flange portions
134
) are engaged with the engagement grooves
133
.
FIG. 10
is a similar vertical sectional view showing the state after the label guide piece
132
(engagement flange portions
134
) are engaged with the engagement grooves
133
. The space between the side plates
102
is made sufficient for receiving the width of the label guide piece
132
. The label guide piece
132
can therefore be inserted between the side plates
102
to engage the engagement flange portions
134
in the engagement grooves
133
without need to detach and disassemble the side plates
102
in their entirety.
The stop portion
135
connects upstream ends of the engagement flange portions
134
and is formed substantially perpendicular to the plane including the engagement flange portion
134
.
The deflection guide portion
136
connects the downstream ends of engagement flange portions
134
. Its undersurface facing the aforesaid deflection member
109
is constituted as a deflection member-side inclined section
137
(
FIG. 8
) similar to the deflection member-side inclined section
119
of the aforesaid label guide piece
108
.
FIG. 11
is vertical sectional view of the label restraining and guiding system
131
portion taken perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the continuous label strip
113
and showing the relationship among the label guide piece
132
, the platen
107
and the bottom cover
110
. The surface of the platen
107
, i.e., the surface on which the printer
104
prints, faces a vacant space
138
of the label guide piece
132
enclosed by the engagement flange portions
134
, the stop portion
135
and the deflection guide portion
136
.
As best shown in
FIG. 10
, the pair of left and right engagement grooves
133
have a depth enabling fitting of the engagement flange portions
134
of the label guide piece
132
therein, and projecting portions
139
of sectionally triangular shape are formed so as to project inward of the side plates
102
above the engagement grooves
133
.
FIG. 12
is a vertical sectional view of the label restraining and guiding system
131
portion taken parallel to the conveyance direction of the continuous label strip
113
. Rear end portions
140
of the engagement grooves
133
rise vertically and the lateral ends of the stop portion
135
of the label guide piece
132
are fitted into these rear end portions
140
. The entire label guide piece
132
can be located in a prescribed positional relationship with respect to the platen
107
, the deflection member
109
, and the bottom cover
110
.
As will be understood from
FIG. 8
, the pair of left and right side plates
102
are fastened by five bolts, i.e., by a first bolt
141
corresponding to the rotation shaft
120
, a second bolt
142
above the rotation shaft
120
, a third bolt
143
corresponding to the rotation shaft
117
, a fourth bolt
144
near the label case
103
, and a fifth bolt
145
located at the rear end portion of the side plates
102
.
In the so-structured portable printing labeler
130
and label restraining and guiding system
131
, at the time of replacing the label guide piece
132
, the first bolt
141
, second bolt
142
, third bolt
143
, fourth bolt
144
and fifth bolt
145
are loosened to form a small gap between the pair of left and right side plates
102
.
There is no need to detach or disassemble the side plates
102
or any of the internal mechanisms or components.
Next, as was explained with reference to
FIG. 13
, the bottom cover
110
is rotated clockwise around the rotation shaft
120
and the platen
107
is rotated counterclockwise around the rotation shaft
117
, the engagement flange portions
134
are removed from the engagement grooves
133
, and the label guide piece
132
is taken out.
When a new label guide piece
132
is to be installed, it is inserted into the space between the side plates
102
retained in the foregoing state, the engagement flange portions
134
are positioned for engagement with the engagement grooves
133
as shown in
FIG. 9
, and one of the engagement flange portions
134
is fitted into the associated engagement groove
133
.
The projecting portions
139
projecting inward of the associated side plate
102
function as a stop when the engagement flange portion
134
is fitted into the engagement groove
133
. In addition, the rear end portion
140
of the engagement groove
133
abuts on the stop portion
135
. The label guide piece
132
can therefore be reliably positioned.
The other side plate
102
is then moved inward to fit the remaining engagement flange portion
134
in the other engagement groove
133
, whereafter it is only necessary to tighten the first bolt
141
, second bolt
142
, third bolt
143
, fourth bolt
144
and fifth bolt
145
.
By this the assembled condition shown in
FIGS. 11 and 12
can be achieved. Thus, as explained earlier, the label guide piece
132
can be installed and removed without totally dismantling the pair of left and right side plates
102
and while maintaining the other components substantially in their assembled condition. The replacement operation can therefore be carried out with utmost ease.
In addition, the label guide piece
132
is made of synthetic resin and can therefore be manufactured at low cost. Even if it needs to be replaced frequently, this is not a problem because the replacement operation is simple. Moreover, since the label guide piece
132
is a laterally symmetrical and unitary, it can maintain adequate strength as a component and further enables simultaneous replacement of the members responsible for guiding both lateral edge portions of the continuous label strip
113
.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
As set out in the forgoing, in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, the label roll or the core is held by the spring plates and the core holding lug members so that both loading and removal can be effected as a single, simple operation and reliable holding performance can be achieved.
In accordance with the second aspect of the invention, the label guide piece can be engaged with and removed from the pair of left and right side plates. The label guide piece can therefore be easily replaced and can be inexpensively manufactured.
In accordance with the third aspect of the invention, when the protective cover is in the closed state, the label roll is locked and prevented from being inadvertently removed from the core holder even if an operation is attempted to move the core holding lug members in the direction of the core removal attitude.
Claims
- 1. In a labeler having a pair of left and right side plates and a label roll conveyance path formed between the side plates and which feeds the label roll through the conveyance path as a strip to attach labels,a label roll core holder having a pair of left and right spring plates provided to face each other across a label holding space between the pair of left and right side plates and, at tips of the spring plates, a pair of left and right core holding lug members for holding the label roll, the core holding lug members each having a rotation shaft, a core holding portion adapted for holding the label roll and located nearer the label holding space than the rotation shaft, and a lug portion that is located on the opposite side of the rotation shaft from the core holding portion and projects outward of the side plate, and the spring plates being capable of supporting the core holding portions of the core holding lug members in a core holding attitude.
- 2. A label roll core holder in a labeler according to claim 1, characterized in being provided with auxiliary springs for supplementing the biasing force of the spring plates.
- 3. A label roll core holder in a labeler according to claim 1, characterized in that the core holding portions of the left and right core holding lug members have identical shapes.
- 4. A label roll core holder in a labeler according to claim 1, characterized in that core retaining projections are formed on the core holding portions of the core holding lug members.
- 5. A label roll core holder in a labeler according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring plates have, at locations thereof apart from said tips toward their middle portions, retaining projection portions capable of holding the core in cooperation with the core holding portions.
- 6. A label roll core holder in a labeler according to claim 1, characterized in that the core holding portions of the left and right core holding lug members have different shapes.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
11-88834 |
Mar 1999 |
JP |
|
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/JP00/01973 |
|
WO |
00 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO00/58194 |
10/5/2000 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (5)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
61259941 |
Nov 1986 |
JP |
3050585 |
May 1998 |
JP |
11-91753 |
Apr 1999 |
JP |
2-19238 |
May 1999 |
JP |