Label dispensing and applying apparatus

Abstract

A hand-held label dispensing and applying apparatus includes a label applying roller adjacent dispensing edge member which serves to detach individual labels from a strip of labels having spaced notches along its length. Labels are advanced from a store to the dispensing edge member by a movable member carrying barbs which engage the strip notches to carry the strips back to a second series of barbs and to print the label on the movable member by a print-head assembly. The movable member effectively forms a printing platen. When the movable member returns to its rest position, the second series of barbs draw a fresh label over the dispense member since they have become engaged with a fresh length of the strip. RELATED APPLICATIONThis application is a division of my application Ser. No. 283,212 filed Aug. 23, 1972 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,890,188, issued June 17, 1975. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the InventionThis invention relates to self-adhesive label printing and applying devices, generally known as label applicators.2. Description of the Prior ArtIn hand held label dispensing and applying apparatus hitherto proposed, a strip or web of labels has been advanced through the apparatus by engagement of apertures in the web by single feed pawl. Such an arrangement is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,741,847 to Yo Sato issued June 26, 1973. Such pawls are, however, unsatisfactory because there is a substantial risk that the web will be torn.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to the present invention there is provided a label applicator comprising a casing, a label-carrying web store mounted on the casing, a print head assembly mounted within the casing, means adjacent such assembly for detaching a printed label from the web, a first barbed member movable relative to the casing and arranged to engage the web, a second barbed member substantially fixed relative to the casing and means for actuating the first barbed member whereby to draw a fresh length of web over the barbs of the second barbed member during a first part of the applicator working cycle, the second part of the working cycle causing the fresh length web to engage the barbs of the second barbed member and draw a length of web from the store equal to one label length and simultaneously to detach a label, printed during the working cycle, by passage of the web over the detaching means.Further according to the present invention there is provided a label applicator comprising a casing having a label web reel carrier, means for applying a label dispensed from the applicator onto an article, a slide member of arcuate shape slidable in an arcuate track of the casing and carrying a trigger-like actuating projection, an elongate arcuate barbed member carried by the casing and carrying two series of barbs, one series being disposed adjacent each longitudinal edge of the fixed barbed member and a platen on which a label about to be dispensed can be printed, this platen being mounted on the slide member adjacent the applying means and carrying barbs arranged to engage a label web and a dispensing edge for detaching successive printed labels, printing means mounted in the casing and ink pad means mounted on the slide member, the ink pad means carrying a cam follower co-operating with a cam arrangement, the follower acting, during a rearward stroke of the slide member, to ink operative print facets of the printing means and to print a label on the platen, and the barbs of the platen serving to draw the web rearwardly so that a fresh length of web is presented to the fixed barbed member, the fixed barbed member serving, on a forward stroke of the slide member, to draw from the reel a length of web equal to one label pitch and to detach a printed label from the web by drawing it over the dispensing edge.Still further according to the present invention there is provided a label applicator comprising a label web store, a print head assembly, means for dispensing labels printed by the assembly and actuating means operative to print and to dispense a given label derived from the store in the same operational cycle, the actuating means including a first series of barbs and a second series of barbs, the first series being movable in one direction to bring a fresh length of the label-carrying web into engagement with the barbs of the second series which barbs are substantially fixed relative to the applicator as a whole, and the second series of barbs serving to hold the web as the first series moves in the opposite direction whereby to draw a printed label to the dispensing means and dispense the label.

Description

Claims

1. In a label applicator, a casing, a label-carrying web store mounted on said casing, a print head assembly mounted within said casing for printing labels withdrawn from said store, means adjacent said print head assembly for detaching a label printed by said print head assembly from the web, a first member having barbs thereon and a platen surface which serves to support a label during the printing operation, said first member being movable relative to said casing and arranged to have its barbs engage the web, a second member having barbs thereon and mounted for limited pivotal movement relative to said casing, and actuating means operable to actuate said first barbed member in one direction to draw a fresh length of web over the barbs of said second barbed member during a first part of a working cycle, and to bring a label carried by said first member into contact with said print head assembly to print that label, said first barbed member being movable in the opposite direction during the second part of the working cycle, causing the fresh length of web to engage the barbs of said second barbed member, and draw a length of web from said store equal to one label length and simultaneously detach the label printed during the first part of the working cycle from the web by passage of the web over said detaching means.

2. An applicator according to claim 1 comprising

an ink pad movable with said actuating means and

a cam arrangement serving to bring said ink pad into contact with operative print facets of said print head assembly during one part of the cycle and to bring said print facets into contact with a label during another part of the cycle.

3. An applicator according to claim 2, wherein said cam arrangement comprises a roller mounted adjacent said ink pad and means defining two part-cylindrical depressions, said last-named means being rigid with said casing and said depressions being complementary to said roller.

4. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises a slide having a finger-engageable projection and grooves accommodating the barbs of said second barbed member.

5. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein said casing comprises a part detachable from the remainder of said casing, said part serving to mount said print head assembly.

6. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said label detaching means comprises a roller mounted on said platen.

7. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein said second barbed member is of elongate arcuate form and is pivoted to said casing at the end remote from said first barbed member to enable said second member to make limited pivotal movements.

8. In a label applicator

a casing having

a label web reel carrier and

means defining an arcuate track,

means for applying a label dispensed from the applicator on to an article,

a slide member of arcuate shape slidable in the arcuate track of the casing and

carrying a trigger-like actuating projection,

an elongate arcuate barbed member carried by the casing and

carrying two series of barbs, one series being disposed adjacent each longitudinal edge of the arcuate barbed member,

a platen on which a label about to be dispensed can be printed,

said platen being mounted on the slide member adjacent the applying means and carrying

barbs arranged in two series corresponding to those of the arcuate member to engage a label web and

a dispensing edge for detaching from the web successive printed labels,

printing means mounted in the casing and

ink pad means mounted on the slide member,

said ink pad means carrying a cam follower co-operating with a cam arrangement,

the follower acting during a rearward stroke of the slide member to ink operative print facets of the printing means by contacting those facets with the ink pad means and to print a label on the platen by bringing the inked facets into contact with the label and the barbs of the platen serving to draw the web rearwardly so that a fresh length of web is presented to the arcuate barbed member,

the arcuate barbed member serving on a forward stroke of the slide member, to draw from the reel a length of web equal to one label pitch and to detach a printed label from the web by drawing it over said dispensing edge.