Label roll core holder associated system and label regulating guide in labeler

Abstract
A core holding device and a cover for roll-shaped label of a label sticking machine capable of assuredly holding a roll-shaped label or a core thereof, simplifying an operation for installation 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 comprises a rotating shaft part, a core holding part and a knob part which is located on the opposite side of the core holding part and projected outward from the sides of the plates and the spring plates can energize the core holding part of each of the core holding knob members in the core holding positional direction thereof.
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. A labeler having a pair of left and right side plates, a label roll conveyance path formed between the side plates and a movable core holder for holding the label roll and which feeds the label roll from the core holder through the conveyance path as a strip to attach labels,a label roll protective cover device for protecting the label roll held in the core holder, said protective cover device comprising: a cover body capable of protecting the label roll, an open/close shaft formed at one end of the cover body and supported on the side plates by a shaft, hook portions formed at another end of the cover body and capable of detachably engaging hook engagement portions of the side plates, and projecting pieces projecting from an inner peripheral side of the cover body and capable of locking the label roll core holder in a stationary core holding position.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
11-88834 Mar 1999 JP
Parent Case Info

This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/701,553 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,189, filed Nov. 29, 2000 in the name of Tadao Kashiwaba and Tadashi Sasaki and entitled LABEL ROLL CORE HOLDER ASSOCIATED SYSTEM AND LABEL REGULATING GUIDE IN LABELER, which is based on PCT/JP00/01973 (WO00/58194), claiming priority to Japanese Application No. 11-88834, filed Mar. 30, 1999.

US Referenced Citations (8)
Number Name Date Kind
3522131 Sato et al. Jul 1970 A
3957562 Hamisch, Jr. May 1976 A
4053345 Hamisch, Jr. Oct 1977 A
4224872 Sato Sep 1980 A
4668326 Mistyurik May 1987 A
4954208 Hamisch, Jr. et al. Sep 1990 A
5800669 Goodwin et al. Sep 1998 A
5988249 Mistyurik et al. Nov 1999 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (7)
Number Date Country
0858950 Aug 1998 EP
2179326 Mar 1987 GB
2201661 Sep 1988 GB
61259941 Nov 1986 JP
3050585 May 1998 JP
11-91753 Apr 1999 JP
2-19238 May 1999 JP