Patent Grant
8465219
The present invention relates to a label printing apparatus.
Label printing apparatus which print on label material such as discrete or die cut labels or on a continuous supply of tape are known. The known label printing apparatus is arranged to receive various different widths of label material.
Label printing apparatuses which use label material in the form of rolls are known. These rolls are of varying width and diameter. The label material is wound on a core. The rolls of label material are manually loaded onto a spool and placed in the printer. The labels are manually fed into the print location. Thus loading and unloading of the label material into and out of the label printing apparatus requires the user to manually interact with the label printing apparatus and perform several steps manually to ensure that the label material is correctly oriented in the label printing apparatus.
Label printing apparatuses where a supply of label material is provided on a disposable roll holder are also known. The roll holder, with the supply of label material is manually guided to a specific location in the label printing apparatus to ensure that the label material is properly positioned. The label material is manually fed into or placed through the printing region.
There have been proposed various mechanism for identifying the type of label material in the label printing apparatus ranging from manually inputting this information to various automatic detection schemes.
There is a problem with the current label printing apparatus in that it is time consuming, difficult and frustrating for a user to change the label material and ensure that a new supply of label material is correctly positioned. This is a particular problem if the supply of label material needs to be changed frequently. The supply of label material may be changed if it has run out or a user wants to print on a different type of label material.
Another problem is caused if a cassette is prematurely removed from the label printing apparatus.
It is an aim of some embodiments of the invention to address one or more of the problems mentioned previously.
A first aspect of the present invention may provide a label printing apparatus comprising: a cassette receiving bay arranged to receive a cassette; and a cassette positioning mechanism arranged to move a cassette inserted into said cassette receiving bay into a position in which printing can take place.
The cassette receiving bay may be arranged to accommodate said cassette vertically in the cassette receiving bay with an axis of rotation of a supply of label material in said cassette perpendicular to said vertical.
The cassette positioning mechanism may be arranged to push a cassette toward a first side wall of the cassette receiving bay. The cassette positioning mechanism may have an initial position adjacent a second side wall opposite to said first side wall.
Said cassette positioning mechanism may have a cassette engagement member for engaging said cassette. Said cassette receiving bay may comprise a second cassette engagement member for engaging said cassette.
Said cassette engagement member and said second cassette engagement member may be such that, when inserted in said cassette receiving bay, the cassette is arranged to pivot about an axis defined by said engagement member and said second cassette engagement member.
The cassette may comprise a supply of label material; wherein said axis defined by said engagement member and said second cassette engagement member is parallel to an axis of rotation of a supply of label material in said cassette.
Said second cassette engagement member may be fixed relative to the cassette receiving bay. The label printing apparatus may comprise a protection member for protecting said second cassette engagement member during insertion of a cassette into the cassette receiving bay. Said protection member is preferably arranged to be moveable to allow said second cassette engagement member to engage said cassette.
The label printing apparatus may be arranged such that the protection member is moved to allow said second cassette engagement member to engage said cassette when the cassette positioning mechanism moves the cassette into the position in which printing can take place. The label printing apparatus may be arranged such that, when the cassette is moved towards the position in which printing can take place, the cassette contacts the protection member and moves the protection member to allow said second cassette engagement member to engage said cassette.
Said protection member preferably has a tapered surface which slopes away from the first side wall of the cassette receiving bay in a direction parallel to that in which the cassette is receivable into the cassette receiving bay, i.e. away from the mouth of the cassette receiving bay.
The cassette positioning mechanism may be arranged to move said cassette only when a lid over the receiving bay is closed. The label printing apparatus may comprise a lid sensor arranged to detect when said lid is closed. The cassette positioning mechanism may be arranged to operate only when a cassette is located in said cassette receiving bay. The label printing apparatus may comprise a cassette sensor arranged to detect when a cassette is located in said cassette receiving bay. The cassette positioning mechanism may be arranged to move said cassette only when a cassette is located in said cassette receiving bay and a lid over the receiving bay is closed. The label printing apparatus may then comprise a lid sensor arranged to detect when said lid is closed.
The label printing apparatus may be arranged such that, when a cassette is located in said cassette receiving bay in a position in which printing can take place, the cassette positioning mechanism is movable to allow the cassette to be removed from the cassette receiving bay. The label printing apparatus may be arranged such that when a cassette is retained in said cassette receiving bay by said cassette engagement member, in a position in which printing can take place, the cassette positioning mechanism is movable to disengage said cassette engagement member from said cassette to allow the cassette to be removed from the cassette receiving bay.
The label printing apparatus may comprise a second cassette engagement member for engaging said cassette. In which case, the label printing apparatus may be arranged such that, when the cassette positioning mechanism is moved to disengage said cassette engagement member from said cassette, the cassette positioning mechanism moves a protection member to a position at which it protects said second cassette engagement member.
Said cassette engagement member may arranged to engage an indented portion of said cassette.
Said cassette positioning mechanism may be coupled to a brake activation mechanism, said brake activation mechanism being arranged to interact with a brake of a cassette. When said cassette positioning mechanism has moved said cassette into a printing position, said brake activation mechanism may interact with said brake.
The cassette receiving bay may have a slot in a bottom surface, said slot arranged to guide movement of a moving member of the cassette positioning mechanism.
Said cassette may include a supply of label material.
A second aspect of the present invention may provide a label printing apparatus comprising: a cassette receiving bay; a cassette located in said cassette receiving bay; and a cassette positioning mechanism arranged to move the cassette into a position in which printing can take place. The cassette may include a supply of label material.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a label printing apparatus comprising: cassette receiving means arranged to receive a cassette; and cassette positioning means arranged to move a cassette received at said cassette receiving means into a position in which printing can take place.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a label printing apparatus comprising: cassette receiving means; a cassette located at said cassette receiving means; and cassette positioning means arranged to move the cassette into a position in which printing can take place.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a label printing apparatus comprising: a cassette receiving bay arranged to receive a cassette; and a cassette engagement mechanism, said cassette engagement mechanism comprising a first engagement member for engaging a first connection portion of a cassette.
Said cassette engagement mechanism may comprise a second engagement member for engaging a second connection portion of the cassette. Said first and second engagement members may be such that a cassette is arranged to pivot about an axis defined by said first and second engagement members. Said first and second connection portions of said cassette may be on opposed sides of said cassette.
The label printing apparatus may comprise a protection member for protecting a part of said cassette engagement mechanism during insertion of a cassette into the cassette receiving bay. Said protection member may be arranged to be moved to allow said part of said cassette engagement mechanism to engage said first connection portion. Said part of said cassette engagement mechanism may comprise said first engagement member.
Said first connection portion of said cassette may be a first indented portion of said cassette. Said second connection portion of said cassette may be a second indented portion of said cassette.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a label printing apparatus comprising: a cassette receiving bay; a cassette located in said cassette receiving bay; and a cassette engagement mechanism, said cassette engagement mechanism comprising a first engagement member for engaging a first connection portion of said cassette. Said cassette may include a supply of label material.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a cassette comprising: a supply of label material; and a housing, said housing arranged to have a first connection portion for engagement with a first engagement member of a label printing apparatus. Said housing may be arranged to have a second connection portion for engagement with a second engagement member of said label printing apparatus. Said first and second connection portions may be arranged on opposed sides of said housing. Said first and second connection portions may be arranged on opposed sides of said housing with said first and second connection portions being directly opposite each other. Said first and second connection portions may be such that, when inserted in a cassette receiving bay of a label printing apparatus, the cassette is arranged to pivot about an axis defined by said first and second connection portions.
Said first connection portion of said cassette may a first indented portion of said cassette. Said second connection portion of said cassette may be a second indented portion of said cassette.
An further aspect of the present invention may provide a cassette comprising: a housing arranged to receive a supply of label material; said housing being further arranged to have a first connection portion for engagement with a first engagement member of a label printing apparatus.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a label printing apparatus comprising: cassette receiving means arranged to receive a cassette; and cassette engagement means, said cassette engagement means comprising first engagement means for engaging a first connection portion of a cassette.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a label printing apparatus comprising: cassette receiving means; a cassette located at said cassette receiving means; and cassette engagement means, said cassette engagement means comprising first engagement means for engaging a first connection portion of said cassette.
An further aspect of the present invention may provide a cassette comprising: a supply of label material; and housing means, said housing means arranged to have a first connection portion for engagement with first engagement means of a label printing apparatus.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a cassette comprising: housing means arranged to receive a supply of label material; said housing means being further arranged to have a first connection portion for engagement with first engagement means of a label printing apparatus.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a cassette comprising: a supply of label material; and a brake, said brake having a first position and a second position, wherein in said first position, said supply is clamped by said brake and in said second position, said supply is removable from said cassette.
Said brake may comprise a biasing arrangement which biases the brake to the first position. Said biasing arrangement may comprise a spring.
Said brake may comprise a first part, said first part contacting a first surface of said supply, when the brake is in the first position. The cassette may comprise a biasing arrangement, said biasing arrangement biasing said first part into contact with the first surface of said supply. Said biasing arrangement may comprise a spring.
Said brake may comprise a second part, said second part contacting a second surface of said supply, when the brake is in the first position, said second surface of said supply being opposite the first surface of the supply.
Said cassette may have a wall surface, said wall surface contacting a second surface of said supply, when the brake is in the first position, said second surface of said supply being opposite the first surface of the supply.
Said first part may include a pressing member, said pressing member being arranged to press against the first surface of said supply when the brake is in the first position. The cassette may comprise a biasing arrangement, said biasing arrangement biasing said pressing member such that the brake is in the first position. The biasing arrangement may comprise a spring. The pressing member may comprise an elastomeric member.
The cassette may be arranged to interact with a brake activation mechanism of a label printing apparatus when said cassette is inserted in said label printing apparatus such that the brake is moved from one position to another. The cassette may include an opening adjacent said brake, said opening being arranged such that the brake activation mechanism of the label printing apparatus is insertable therethough when the cassette is in the label printing apparatus.
The supply may be arranged between respective opposing surfaces of first and second label material guiding members. The first guiding member may include an opening therethrough, within which opening at least a part of said first part is located when the brake is in the first position. The brake may be provided adjacent an outlet of said cassette through which said supply is passable.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a label printing apparatus comprising: a cassette receiving bay; and a cassette located in said cassette receiving bay, the cassette comprising: a supply of label material; and a brake, said brake having a first position and a second position, wherein in said first position, said supply is clamped by said brake and in said second position, said supply is removable from said cassette.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a label printing apparatus comprising: a cassette receiving bay; and a brake activation mechanism, said brake activation mechanism arranged to interact with a brake of a cassette, when inserted in said cassette receiving bay, said brake activation mechanism causing said brake to move from a first position to a second position.
The cassette, when inserted in said cassette receiving bay, may be movable between a first position and a second position relative to the receiving bay; wherein movement of the cassette from its first position to its second position causes the brake activation mechanism to move the brake from its first position, at which a supply of label material in the cassette is clamped by said brake, to its second position, at which said supply is removable from said cassette.
The brake activation mechanism may comprise a protrusion protruding from a surface of the cassette receiving bay, said protrusion being insertable through an opening in a cassette, when inserted in said cassette receiving bay, adjacent the brake of the cassette; wherein, when the cassette is moved from its first position to its second position, the protrusion is arranged to move the brake from its first position to its second position.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a cassette comprising: a supply of label material; and brake means, said brake means having a first position and a second position, wherein in said first position, said supply is clamped by said brake means and in said second position, said supply is removable from said cassette.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a label printing apparatus comprising: cassette receiving means; and a cassette located at said cassette receiving means, the cassette comprising: a supply of label material; and brake means, said brake means having a first position and a second position, wherein in said first position, said supply is clamped by said brake means and in said second position, said supply is removable from said cassette.
An further aspect of the present invention may provide a label printing apparatus comprising: cassette receiving means; and brake activation means, said brake activation means arranged to interact with brake means of a cassette, when received at said cassette receiving means, said brake activation means causing said brake means to move from a first position to a second position.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a cassette comprising: a support post; a supply of label material having a central opening; and an insert arranged over said support post and in said central opening, said insert and said support post being arranged to resist relative rotation of said insert and said support post unless at least a predetermined force is applied.
One of the outer circumference of the support post and the interior of said insert may be circular. One of the outer circumference of the support post and the interior of said insert is preferably a polygon. Said polygon may be a hexagon.
Said predetermined force may be applied to said label material by a driven roller of a label printing apparatus in which said cassette is accommodated.
The insert may be configured to be flexible. The insert may be provided with a plurality of cut out portions whereby said insert is flexible.
The outer circumference of the support post may be a polygon; in which case the internal diameter of the insert at the distal end of prongs between the plurality of cut out portions may be less than the diameter of the polygon circumference of the support post when the latter is measured between two opposing peaks of the polygon circumference.
Said insert and an interior surface of said opening are preferably arranged to resist relative rotation of said insert and said opening unless a second predetermined force is applied, the second predetermined force being greater than said predetermined force. One or more projections may be provided on one or other of the insert and the interior surface of the opening, said projections creating an interference fit between the insert and the interior surface of the opening.
The insert may be integrally formed with said central opening of the supply, said central opening and said support post being arranged to resist relative rotation of the interior surface of the opening and said support post unless at least the predetermined force is applied.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a cassette comprising: support means; a supply of label material having a central opening; and insert means arranged over said support means and in said central opening, said insert mean and said support means being arranged to resist relative rotation of said insert means and said support means unless at least a predetermined force is applied.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a label printing apparatus comprising: a cassette receiving bay arranged to receive a cassette; and an engagement member movable between a first position in which said engagement member is engaged with said cassette and a second position in which said engagement member is disengaged with said cassette.
Said engagement member is preferably an elongate bar. The engagement member preferably has a longitudinal axis parallel to an axis about which a supply of label material in a cassette is arranged to rotate.
The engagement member may be arranged to engage an engagement portion of said cassette, and said engagement portion is preferably arranged on a side surface of said cassette, which may be arranged so as to be parallel to an axis about which a supply of label material in a cassette is arranged to rotate.
When said engagement member is engaged with said cassette, the engagement member may be moveable to cause the cassette to move between a first position and a second position relative to the cassette receiving bay. When the cassette is in its first position, a brake of the cassette may be in a first position at which a supply of label material in the cassette is clamped by said brake, and when the cassette is in its second position, the brake may be in a second position at which said supply is removable from said cassette.
The movement of the cassette between its first and second positions is preferably a rotational movement about an axis. Said axis may be defined by the combination of a first element and a second element with which the first element is engaged, one of the first and second elements being part of the cassette, and the other of the first and second elements being part of the cassette receiving bay.
The label printing apparatus may comprise a feed roller. The feed roller may be arranged to have a first position in which said feed roller is engaged with label material of a cassette and a second position in which said feed roller is spaced from the label material of a cassette. The label printing apparatus may include a link mechanism coupling said engagement member and said feed roller.
The link mechanism may be such that there is a first configuration in which said feed roller is in said second position and said engagement member is in said second position. The link mechanism may be such that there is a second configuration in which said feed roller is in said first position and said engagement member is in said first position. The link mechanism may be such that there is a third configuration in which said feed roller is in said second position and said engagement member is in said first position. Said link mechanism may have the third configuration when a print head of said label printing apparatus is printing.
The feed roller may have a floating support mechanism. A cam mechanism may be arranged to move the feed roller between the first and second positions. The label printing apparatus may comprise a motor. The motor may be arranged to drive said engagement member between said first and second positions.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a label printing apparatus comprising: a cassette receiving bay; a cassette located in said cassette receiving bay; and an engagement member movable between a first position in which said engagement member is engaged with said cassette and a second position in which said engagement member is disengaged with said cassette.
When said engagement member is engaged with said cassette, the engagement member may be moveable to cause the cassette to move between a first position and a second position relative to the cassette receiving bay. When the cassette is in its first position, a brake of the cassette may be in a first position at which a supply of label material in the cassette is clamped by said brake, and when the cassette is in its second position, the brake may be in a second position at which said supply is removable from said cassette.
The cassette may include a supply of label material.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a label printing apparatus comprising: cassette receiving means arranged to receive a cassette; and engagement means movable between a first position in which said engagement means is engaged with said cassette and a second position in which said engagement means is disengaged with said cassette.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a label printing apparatus comprising: cassette receiving means; a cassette located at said cassette receiving means; and engagement means movable between a first position in which said engagement means is engaged with said cassette and a second position in which said engagement means is disengaged with said cassette.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a cassette comprising: a supply of label material; and a first surface, a second surface and a side surface between said first and second surfaces defining a housing for said supply of label material, said side surface comprising an engagement portion for engagement with a engagement member of a label printing apparatus when said cassette is in said label printing apparatus.
The cassette may comprise a connection portion for engagement with a cassette engagement member of a label printing apparatus. The cassette may comprise a second connection portion for engagement with a second cassette engagement member of the label printing apparatus. The first connection portion may be provided at said first surface and said second connection portion may be provided at said second surface. The first and second connection portions may be such that the cassette, when inserted in a cassette receiving bay of said label printing apparatus, is arranged to pivot about an axis defined by said first and second connection portions.
The engagement portion preferably has a longitudinal axis parallel to the axis defined by said first and second connection portions. Preferably the longitudinal axis and the axis defined by said first and second connection portions are parallel to an axis about which the supply of label material is arranged to rotate. The engagement portion may have a longitudinal axis parallel to an axis about which the supply of label material is arranged to rotate.
The engagement portion may be located adjacent an outlet of said cassette through which outlet said supply is passable.
The connection portion is preferably arranged to engage with a cassette engagement member of a cassette positioning mechanism of said label printing apparatus; said cassette positioning mechanism being arranged to move the cassette, when inserted in a cassette receiving bay of said label printing apparatus, into a position at which printing can take place.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a cassette comprising: a first surface, a second surface and a side surface between said first and second surfaces defining a housing for a supply of label material, said side surface comprising an engagement portion for engagement with a engagement member of a label printing apparatus when said cassette is in said label printing apparatus.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a cassette comprising: a supply of label material; and a first surface, a second surface and a side surface between said first and second surfaces defining housing means for said supply of label material, said side surface comprising an engagement portion for engagement with engagement means of a label printing apparatus when said cassette is in said label printing apparatus.
A further aspect of the present invention may provide a cassette comprising: a first surface, a second surface and a side surface between said first and second surfaces defining housing means for a supply of label material, said side surface comprising an engagement portion for engagement with engagement means of a label printing apparatus when said cassette is in said label printing apparatus.
For a better understanding of the present invention and how to how the same may carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which:
Embodiments of the invention may provide an automatic cassette positioning mechanism which has an advantage that the user does not need to position the label material accurately. It may be sufficient to position the cassette somewhere over the width in the cassette receiving bay and more or less in the correct orientation, and the specific shape of the cassette receiving bay in combination with the positioning mechanism brings the cassette into the correct position.
Reference is now made to
The material of the labels can be any suitable form, for example paper, polypropylene or any other material.
The cassette is arranged to have a first connection portion 12, as shown in
In
In
The cassette 10 of the present invention can be of a modular construction. Respective sides 16, 18 can be used in each variant of the cassette 10, but one, two, three or more (i.e. a plurality) of middle sections can be provided to form the middle portion 17 between the two sides 16, 18. Such middle sections can be thought of as “stacking” together to form a complete middle portion 17 of the cassette 10. Such a modular construction allows different widths (in an axial direction) of rolls of label material 8 to be housed in the cassette 10 of the present invention.
In
In
In other embodiments of the present invention, one or both of the connection portions 12, 14 may be part of a respective side part 16, 18 of the cassette 10. In other embodiments, one or both of the connection portions 12, 14 may be part of the middle portion 17 of the cassette 10. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the connection portions 12, 14 comprise cup like indented portions. However, other shapes can be provided for these portions.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the indented portions may comprise two holes, which may be interconnected to provide an open ended cylinder.
In other embodiments, one or each of these connection portions 12, 14 may not be indented, or female, portions. Indeed, one or each of connection portions 12, 14 may be male portions (though not shown in the drawings). The male portions may protrude outwards from the cassette 10 beyond respective planar surfaces 16, 18 of the cassette 10. Alternatively, such male portions may only protrude from the cassette 10 to an extent such that the distal end of the male portions are flush or generally flush with a respective planar surface 16 and 18 of the cassette 10. One connection portion may be male and the other female, or they may both be of the same “gender”.
The connection portions 12, 14 are adapted to engage first and second engagement members of a label printing apparatus, as described below. Thus, in the drawings, the interface between the connection portions 12, 14 and the respective first and second engagement members is such that each connection portion co-operates with an engagement portion of the label printing apparatus.
In different embodiments, the interface could be a peg of one of the cassette 10 and the label printing apparatus adapted to locate in a socket, or fit in and follow a groove, formed in the other of the cassette 10 and the label printing apparatus. The interface could be an arc-shaped protrusion of one of the cassette 10 and the label printing apparatus which is adapted to fit in and follow a groove in the other of the cassette 10 and the label printing apparatus. Other arrangements are also conceivable.
As will also be discussed below, the cassette 10 shown in the drawings is arranged to rotate about an axis which runs between the connection portions 12, 14, and thus also between the first and second engagement members of the label printing apparatus. Thus, the connection portions 12, 14 in the drawings are permitted to rotate about this axis relative to the first and second engagement members.
In other embodiments, the parts of the connection portions 12, 14 which interface with the engagement members of the label printing apparatus, such as by contacting them, may not move relative to the part of the engagement members that they interface directly with. In such a case, one or other or both of a connection portion 12, 14 and an engagement member may include at least two members, which are permitted to rotate relative to the other. For example, a connection portion may be a cup like indented portion, as shown in the figures. The corresponding engagement member of the label printing apparatus may be a peg adapted to rotate about an axis relative to another element of the label printing apparatus. Thus, when the peg is inserted in the indented portion, the peg does not rotate relative to the indented portion, but the peg rotates about its axis relative to the other element of the label printing apparatus. Since in this arrangement the indented portion would not move relative to another element, this arrangement would reduce wear on indented portion 12, 14 of the cassette 10.
In the embodiment shown in
In
In a second corner region, 22, spaced apart from the first corner region is a media brake 26. The first and second corner regions are generally the lowermost part of the cassette when received in the label printing apparatus, with the roll of label material generally supported above these two corner regions.
The media brake 26 is arranged to clamp the label material 8 when the cassette is being transported or when the cassette is being inserted or being removed from the label printing apparatus. In one embodiment of the invention, the media brake is applied except when the cassette is in the correct position in the label printing apparatus for printing. The cassette comprises a label material outlet 24 in this second corner region 22 of the cassette. The media brake 26 is arranged to clamp the label material adjacent the outlet 24.
The cassette 10 includes a label material guiding member 28 and a wall member 40, between respective opposing surfaces 32, 30 of which the label material is arranged to pass adjacent to the outlet 24. The gap between the surfaces 32, 30 is fixed. It should be appreciated that the wall member 40 may be a separate member, as shown in
The media brake 26 also comprises a brake member 34, also referred to as a clamping part. The brake member 34 includes an elastomer pressure pad 36, also termed a pressing member. This elastomer pressure pad 36 is in the form of a cylinder which presses against a surface of the label material through an opening 48 in the guiding member 28. This pressing presses the opposite side of the label material 8 into contact with the wall surface 30 of wall member 40, to clamp the label material between the brake member 34 and the wall member 40. The pressure pad 36 may take on another form and/or manufacturing process. It may be the result of an over-mould or secondary thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) part. The pad 36 may be other shapes other than cylindrical, such as a flat pad, or a cylinder with an elliptical, square or rectangular cross section or a cross section of any other polygon. In other embodiments, the pressure pad 36 may not be made from an elastomer material. The pressure pad 36 may be made from a solid, non-compressible, or substantially non-compressible, material. The pressure pad 36 may be formed from an inelastic or an elastic material, and from a flexible or non-flexible material.
The brake member 34 and/or the pressing member 36 of the brake member 34, in preferred embodiments of the present invention, is arranged to have a dimension such that it extends substantially across the width of the label material 8, and/or substantially across the width of the cassette 10 between its sides 16, 18. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the brake member 34 and/or the pressing member 36 may have a larger or smaller dimension in the width direction of the cassette 10. Where more than one width of label material 8 can be used with the cassette 10 and label printing apparatus as a whole, the width of the brake member 34 and/or the pressing member 36 may be of a similar dimension to the width of the largest size of label material which can be used with the label printing apparatus.
The media brake also has a brake spring 42. The brake spring 42 is arranged around a cylindrical part 44 of the brake member 34. The spring 42 is arranged to act against the guiding member 28 and in particular is arranged to engage groove 46 of the guiding member 28. In other words, one end of the spring 42 engages the brake member 34 and the other is arranged to engage the guiding member 28. The spring 42 acts to bias the brake member 34 towards the label material 8, and thus the pressure pad 36 into contact with the surface of the label material 8. Rather than a coil spring 42, in other embodiments, any type of biasing arrangement may be provided to perform this role, such as a leaf spring, or an elastic material. This means that when the cassette is being transported, or inserted or removed from the label printing apparatus, the label material 8 is clamped in position relative to the outlet 24. The clamping of the label material 8 prevents the label material 8 from being wound off the label supply. This means that the label material 8 does not come out of the cassette 10 and the tension of the label material 8 on the label supply is maintained.
When the cassette 10 is correctly inserted in the label printing apparatus, as will be described in more detail hereinafter, the media brake 26 is engaged by a brake actuating member 174 of the label printing apparatus which lifts up the brake member 34, with respect to the guiding member 28. In particular, the biasing force of the spring 42 is overcome so that the pressure pad 36 no longer is urged against the label material 8. This releases the pressure on the label material 8 so that the label material 8 is no longer clamped and can be driven out of the cassette 8. The mechanism for actuating the brake member 34 will be described in more detail hereinafter.
The cassette has an opening 27 adjacent the media brake 26, which can be seen in
Once the cassette is left-justified in the receiving bay 120, then due to the relative dimensions of the cassette 10 and the receiving bay 120, the cassette can be rotated within the bay 120 about an axis defined by first and second engagement members 128, 184, which are engaged with the respective first and second connection portions 12 and 14. Such rotation of the cassette 10 results in relative movement between the cassette 10 and the brake actuating member 174, which is located in the opening 27 and adjacent (under) the brake member 34 of the cassette 10. The brake actuating member 174 thus lifts the brake member 34 relative to the rest of the cassette 10, against the biasing of the spring 42, thus releasing the braking effect on the label material 8.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the rotational movement of the cassette 10 is caused by a pressure bar 80 acting on the cassette 10 to rotate the cassette 10 about the axis defined by the first and second engagement members 128, 184, when the pressure bar 80 is engaged with the cassette 10. This will be discussed in more detail below.
It should be appreciated that the specific example of the clamping mechanism can be changed for any suitable mechanism. For example, the spring can be replaced by any other suitable biasing member. Additionally, in some embodiments of the present invention, fewer or more parts, than that shown in
In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the media brake 26 has been shown as clamping the label material 8 near the outlet 24 of the cassette 10. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the media brake 26 may be provided at any other suitable location. For example, the media brake 26 may, in some embodiments of the present invention be arranged to act against the label material 8 when it is provided on the label supply roll.
Reference is now made to
The insert 62 is arranged to be received in the core (or opening) 64 of the label material 8. The insert 62 has at least one projection 66 extending outwardly therefrom which mates with the core 64 to provide an interference fit between the insert 62 and the core 64. The insert 62 is arranged so that there is no relative movement between the insert 62 and the post 60 if less than a predetermined turning force is applied to one of the insert 62 and the post 60 relative to the other, and furthermore no relative movement between the insert 62 and the core 64 unless a second predetermined force is applied to them, which second predetermined force is greater than the predetermined force required for relative rotation between the insert 62 and the core 64. The insert 62 is thus arranged to rotate relative to the support post 60 when at least the predetermined force is applied.
As the support post 60 is hexagonal and the internal circumference of the insert 62 is circular, relative movement between the support post 60 and the insert 62 is possible. The cut outs are such they provide flexibility to the insert to allow the rotational movement. On applying a sufficient turning force between the post 60 and the insert 62, the distance between the distal ends of the prongs 65 of the insert 62 increases and the prongs 65 climb over the peaks of the hexagonal cross section of the post 60. However, there will be some resistance to the rotational movement caused by the effective interference fit between the prongs 65 and the post 60. This means that label material 8 will not unwind from the core easily. The resistance is such that the resistance can be overcome with a driving force applied to the label material 8 of at least a predetermined magnitude. The driving force may be provided by a feed roller 84 or the like (as will be described in more detail hereinafter). Since the label material 8 does not easily unwind from the core 64 and remains relatively tightly wound on the core 64, back-up space is provided between the label material 8 held on the core 64 and the inner surface and outlet 24 of the cartridge 10. In order to drive the label material 8 back into the cartridge, a force is applied to the label material 8, such as via a feed roller 84, discussed below, and the label material 8 is able to occupy this available back-up space.
It should be appreciated that the insert 62 and the support post 60 can have any suitable shapes. The criterion is that relative rotation between the insert 62 and the support post 60 is possible but only if a driving force is applied, to prevent unravelling. In some embodiments of the present invention, the insert 62 may be omitted and instead the interaction between the core 64 of the label roll and the fixed support post 60 may provide the necessary resistance. In some embodiments of the present invention, the insert 62 may be integrally formed with the core 64 of the supply. In which case, the core 64 and the support post 60 would be arranged to resist relative rotation between themselves, unless the predetermined force is applied.
The hexagonal shape of the support post 60 is by way of example only. Other shapes are possible. For example, the support post can have any suitable number of sides or may even be a circular side, provided that the core 64 or the insert 62 is arranged to have a frictional or resistant engagement therewith.
Alternative frictional or resistance providing arrangements may alternatively or additionally help to achieve the required effect.
In the embodiment described, the insert 62 has cut away portions 63 to provide a degree of flexibility. These cut away portions 63 may be omitted in some embodiments of the invention. Flexibility of the insert 62 may achieved by other methods such a by the use of suitable materials of suitable thicknesses.
Reference is now made to
When the pressure bar 80 contacts the cassette 10, rotational movement of the cassette about the axis defined by the portions 12 and 14 is permitted. The pressure bar 80 can rotate the cassette 10 from a first position to a second position at which it is retained relative to the cartridge receiving bay 120 and printing on the label material can take place without fear of the cassette 10 becoming dislodged from this retained position. The longitudinal axis of the pressure bar 80 is parallel to the axis defined by the connection portions 12, 14. Accordingly, the engagement portion 82 is on the second corner region 22 above the exit slot 24 for the label material.
As briefly mentioned above, this rotation of the cassette 10 relative to the receiving bay 120 as a result of movement of the pressure bar 80 results in relative movement between the cassette 10 and the brake actuating member 174 attached to the receiving bay 120 and located in the opening 27 of the cassette. Since the brake actuating member 174 is located under the brake member 34 of the cassette 10, this rotational movement of the cassette 10 from its first to its second position causes the brake actuating member 174 lift the brake member 34 relative to the rest of the cassette 10, thus releasing the pressure of the braking member 34 on the label material 8. In the cassette's first position the brake on the label material 8 is applied, and thus the label material 8 is clamped by the brake 26. In the cassette's second position, the brake on the label material 8 is not applied, and thus the label material 8 is removable from the cassette 10.
In other embodiments of the present invention, the opening 27 may be provided in a wall of the cassette receiving bay 120 and the brake member 34 may include a projection which cooperates with the edge of the opening, such that the brake member 34 is lifted to release the brake on the label material 8 as a result of the cassette moving from its first position to its second position.
In still further embodiments, a magnetic switch may be used to operate the brake.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the movement of the pressure bar 80 from its first configuration (as shown in
In some embodiments of the present invention, it is advantageous to have the pressure bar 80 acting on the region of the engagement portion 82 below the area of the cassette 10 which accommodates the roll of label material 8. This is because a more compact arrangement may be achieved in certain embodiments of the present invention. As mentioned previously, the cassette 10 is generally arranged vertically in preferred embodiments of the invention. By “vertically”, it is meant that the axis of rotation 20 of the cassette 10 is horizontal and the sides 16, 18 of the cassette 10 are each located in a vertical plane. The label material 8 is coiled in a vertical plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation 20. So, when the label printing apparatus is in normal use, to insert a cassette 10 into the cassette receiving bay 120, a user lowers the cassette downwards vertically into the bay 120 with the axis of rotation of the cassette 10 aligned horizontally and the sides 16, 18 of the cassette 10 each lying, at least substantially, in a vertical plane.
The engagement portion 82 has a longitudinal axis parallel to an axis about which the supply of label material 8 in the cassette 10 is arranged to rotate.
The shape of the engagement portion 82 can have any suitable shape. However, the shape of the engagement portion 82 is such that the pressure bar 80 is encouraged to engage the cassette 10 and not to slide out of engagement therewith. In one embodiment the pressure bar 80 is a generally elongate member and the engagement portion 82 is provided by a recessed or a suitably shaped indented portion of the cassette 10.
In one embodiment of the invention, there are three stages associated with the movement of the pressure bar 80. In the first stage, the pressure bar 80 is spaced from the associated engagement portion 82 of the cassette. A feed roller 84 which can feed the label material 8 out of or into the cassette 10 is spaced from the label material 8 so that there is no engagement of the feed roller 84 with the label material 8. This is illustrated in
In a second stage, which is illustrated in
In the third stage, the pressure bar 80 is engaged with the engagement portion 82 of the cassette and the feed roller 84 is disengaged from the label material 8. It will be noted that in the embodiment shown in the drawings, the feed roller 84 has moved relative to the main body of the label printing apparatus as the pressure bar 80 goes from its second stage to its third stage.
As can be seen from a consideration of
The feed roller 84 is provided for feeding the label material 8 out of the cassette. This may for example be provided in order to make sure that the print head is correctly aligned with a discrete or die cut labels in the longitudinal direction of the label material 8. Additionally or alternatively, the feed roller 84 is provided in order to feed the label material 8 back into the cassette 10.
The feed roller 84 is preferably biased upwards towards the receiving bay 120, to ensure that the feed roller 84 contacts the label material 8 with sufficient pressure to create friction between the feed roller 84 and the label material 8, to feed the label material 8. Such biasing could be provided by a spring. However, in some embodiments of the present invention, the feed roller 84 is not spring loaded. The feed roller 84 may be fixed in position relative to the receiving bay 120.
It should be appreciated that in some embodiments of the present invention, the feed roller 84 can be dispensed with and the function associated with the feed roller 84 can instead be provided by a platen. In that alternative embodiment, there would be a simple two stage movement associated with the pressure bar 80 and there would be relative movement between the print head of the label printing apparatus and the platen.
As mentioned, there is a three stage movement associated with the pressure bar. The third stage, which is illustrated in
The pressure bar 80 comprises an elongate bar with a circular cross section. The pressure bar 80 is connected at each end to a linkage member 88. The two linkage members 88 are generally curved, elongate members. The linkage members 88 are such that during the movement of the pressure bar 80 between the first and second stages, the linkage members 88 generally define an arc of a circle or similar shape.
Each linkage member 88 is connected to respective ends of a cam linkage member 90 at the opposite end of the respective linkage member 88 to the end connected to the pressure bar 80. Rotation of each cam linkage member 90 relative to each respective linkage member 88 is about axis 104. The cam-linkage members 90 are arranged to be connected to opposite ends of a cam shaft 92. The cam shaft 92 is connected to the each cam-linkage member 90 at a position spaced apart from the point at which each cam linkage member 90 is connected to the linkage member 88. Each cam linkage member 90 is arranged to rotate about an axis 106 defined by the cam shaft 92.
The extent of movement of the pressure bar 80, and hence the linkage members 88, is limited by physical stop features with associated detector switches.
The pressure bar is driven between its two positions by a motor 100 and associated gear train 102. The motor 100 and gear train 102 can be seen from
The cam linkage mechanism 90 determines whether the feed roller 84 is in contact with the label material 8 or spaced there from. As can be seen from a comparison of
In contrast, when the cam linkage member 90 is in a position shown in
A torsion spring is provided to counterbalance gravity, in order to make sure the cartridge 10 rotates up about the axis defined by the indented portions 12 and 14 when the pressure bar 80 disengages from the cartridge 10, aiding removal of the cartridge 10 from the receiving bay 120.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a feed roller gear train 114 is provided to drive the feed roller 84, when required. This feed roller gear train 114 can be seen from
With some embodiments of the present invention, a range of differently sized cassettes 10 can be accommodated in the cassette receiving bay 120. The cassette receiving bay 120 can be sized so as to receive the largest size of cassette 10 with a relatively small amount of play to ensure that the cassette 10 is correctly positioned by a positioning mechanism. The positioning mechanism will be described in more detail hereinafter. In other embodiments of the present invention, the cassette receiving bay 120 may be much larger than the size of the cassette 10 received in the cassette receiving bay 120.
In the embodiment illustrated in
The user places the cassette 10 in the cassette receiving bay 120. There is no requirement to place the cassette 10 into the correct position. Rather, the user merely has to place the cassette 10 in the correct orientation into the cassette receiving bay 120 and the positioning mechanism, which will be described in more detail hereinafter, will move the cassette 10 into the correct configuration.
The user inserts the cassette 10 into the receiving bay 120 in a direction that lies in a vertical plane. Thus, when the cassette is inserted, the sides 16, 18 of the cassette 10 lie in a vertical plane and the axis of rotation 20 of the cassette and label material 8 is horizontal. The sides 16,18 of the cassette 10 may each lie in a vertical plane in the receiving bay 120 at any distance in the bay 120 from the sides 122, 126 of the receiving bay 120. In this regard,
The positioning mechanism causes the cassette 10 to be moved to the orientation shown in
In other embodiments, the cassette 10 may instead be “right-justified”, i.e. pushed towards the opposite side wall 126 of the receiving bay 120 such that side wall 126 engages side 18 of the cassette 10. The position in which printing can take place would then be when the side wall 126 engages side 18 of the cassette 10.
In other embodiments, the cassette may be positioned by the positioning mechanism at a point somewhere between side walls 122, 126 at which printing can take place, i.e. with neither side 16 nor side 18 of the cassette 10 engaging a side wall 122, 126 of the bay 120. The cassette 10 may be positioned at a position equidistant between the side walls 122, 126 of the bay 120.
In other embodiments, there may be a plurality of positions at which printing can take place, and the positioning mechanism may cause the cassette 10 to be located at any one of these plural positions.
The positioning mechanism will now be described with reference to
As can be seen from
In some embodiments of the present invention, a sensor 130 is provided. This sensor 130 is arranged to detect the insertion of a cassette 10. This sensor 130 may take any suitable format and may for example be a pressure sensor. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the sensor 130 can for example be an optical sensor or the like. In other embodiments, the sensor 130 may detect a tag on a cassette 10, such as an RFID (Radio-frequency identification) tag or other electronic tag.
In some embodiments, a second sensor 192 is also provided to detect when a lid (not shown) over the receiving bay 120 is closed. The lid may be lockable. The lid prevents a user from touching a cassette 10 located in the receiving bay 120 and prevents foreign objects falling into the cassette receiving bay 120 which may interrupt the operation of the cassette positioning mechanism. Again, this second sensor 192 may be a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, or any other kind of suitable sensor. Either or both of the sensor 130 and second sensor 192 may be omitted.
In the embodiment shown in the figures, when the sensor 130 detects the presence of a cassette, the pushing member 128 moves from the position adjacent wall 126, along the slot 124 and towards the wall 122. The pushing member 128 will engage with indented portion 14 of the cassette. In embodiments which include the second sensor 192, such movement of the pushing member may be prevented until the second sensor 192 detects that the lid is closed.
An engagement member 184 is provided on the first side wall 122 which engages with first indented portion 12. The engagement member 184 and the pushing member 128 are shaped to be received at a respective end thereof in the respective indented portion 12, 14 of the cassette 10. To prevent the engagement member 184 from interfering with the insertion of the cassette 10 a protection member 180 is provided. This protection member 180 is in the form of a ramp sloping away from the first side wall 122 of the bay 120 in a direction away from the mouth of the cassette receiving bay 120, the mouth being the open end of the bay 120 through which a cassette is inserted into the bay 120. The protection member 180 defines a recess in which the engagement member 184 is accommodated adjacent side wall 122. The mechanism for moving the protection member will be described later. In the alternative the protection member 180 may be omitted and a similar function may be provided by a recess in the side wall 122.
The mechanism for moving the pushing member 128 can be seen clearly from
Thus, when it is determined by the sensor 130 that a cassette has been inserted in the cassette receiving bay, the pushing member 128 is moved through the cooperation between the gear 136 and the teeth 162. The gear 136 turns anti-clockwise, as
When the cassette 10 has travelled part way towards the first side wall 122 it contacts the protection member 180. The cassette 10 is further moved towards the first side wall 122 and in doing so moves the protection member 180 in the same direction as the direction of travel of the cassette 10 to expose the engagement member 184 which engages the first indented portion 12. Movement of the protection member 180 in this way causes the protection member 180 to trip a sensor 190 located externally to the receiving bay 120 when the cassette 10 has reached the first side wall 122 and, thus, when the protection member 180 has been fully moved to expose the engagement member 184. Sensor 190 may be of the same type, or a different type, to sensor 195.
As described previously, the media brake 26 is used to retain the label material 8 in position when the cassette 10 is transported. Movement of the cassette 10 towards the first side wall 122, as just described, results in relative movement between the cassette 10 and the brake actuating member 174 which protrudes from the first side wall 122. When the cassette 10 reaches the first side wall 122, the brake actuating member 174 is located in the opening 27 in the cassette 10, as discussed above. The pressure bar 80 discussed above then moves from its first stage to its second stage (as shown in
In this embodiment, such movement of the pressure bar 80 is only permitted when the sensor 190 has detected that the protection member 180 has been fully moved to expose the engagement member 184 and thus that the cassette 10 is in a position at which printing can take place. In other embodiments, the sensor 190 can be omitted and the determination as to when or whether the pressure bar 80 is permitted to move can be accomplished in other ways. As can be seen from
When a user wishes to remove a cassette 10 from the cassette receiving bay 120, the gear 136 is driven in the opposite direction to that described above, i.e. clockwise, causing the plate member 160 to move in the direction of arrow A to go back to its initial position and to cause the brake actuating member 174 to be removed from the opening 27 in the cassette 10.
As the plate member 160 moves, the projection 164 on plate member 160 travels along the track 186 of support plate 182. The projection 164 contacts the stop 188 of the support plate 182 and draws the support plate 182 in the direction of arrow A. As will be readily understood, this movement of the support plate 182 moves the protection member 180 in the direction of arrow A away from first side wall 122. Since the cassette 10 in the cassette receiving bay 120 is abutting the protection member 180, the cassette 10 is also drawn in the direction of arrow A by the protection member 180. This movement of the protection member 180 results in the engagement member 184 being enveloped by the protection member 180 again.
Once the plate member 160 nears or reaches its position of furthest travel in the direction of arrow A, it triggers sensor 195. Triggering of this sensor 195 may disengage the lock (not shown) which held the lid over the cassette receiving bay 120, thereby allowing the user to open the lid and remove the cassette 10. In other embodiments, such as where a lid is not provided, sensor 195 may be omitted.
It should be appreciated that in alternative embodiments of the invention, the media brake may be released by a similar mechanism which is independent of the positioning mechanism, and/or independent of the movement of the pressure bar 80.
It should also be appreciated that each of the mechanisms discussed herein may be provided in a cassette or a label printing apparatus, as appropriate, independently or in combination with another or others of the mechanisms discussed herein.
The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. Various modifications and alterations to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous techniques which, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the invention and are thus within the spirit and scope of the invention.
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