Patents by Inventor Donald L. Karn

Donald L. Karn has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5705245
    Abstract: There is disclosed a composite label web having feed apertures in its carrier web which enable the composite label web to be advanced in a labeler. The feed apertures are preferably arranged in pairs, and each pair has two equally and oppositely transversely and longitudinally inclined feed faces. The feed faces are engageable by a toothed driver. The feed apertures are spaced from the side edges of the carrier web and are spaced apart to avoid tearing out between the feed apertures. Flap portions of the carrier web resulting from making the feed apertures extend in other than the leading direction. The feed faces assist in keeping the carrier web transversely centered in the labeler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Loemker, Paul H. Hamisch, Jr., Donald L. Karn, Rudolph J. Klein
  • Patent number: 5015324
    Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held labeler having a housing with a handle, a thermal print head for printing on labels of a composite label web, a platen roll cooperable with the print head, a delaminator for delaminating printed labels, an applicator for applying printed labels, and a brake for arresting the platen roll to prevent loss of print registration during application of a label. The operative components of the labeler are readily accessible for servicing, and yet the labeler is simple in construction. The labeler has an improved print head mounting structure for facilitating precise alignment and pressure contact between the print head and the platen roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent E. Goodwin, Donald L. Karn, John D. Mistvurik, John R. Monteith, Mark A. Seale, David R. Wisecup
  • Patent number: 5013387
    Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held labeler having a housing with a handle, a thermal print head for printing on labels of a composite label web, a platen roll cooperable with the print head, a delaminator for delaminating printed labels, an applicator for applying printed labels, and a brake for arresting the platen roll to prevent loss of print registration during application of a label. The operative components of the labeler are readily accessible for servicing, and yet the labeler is simple in construction. The labeler has an improved print head mounting structure for facilitating precise alignment and pressure contact between the print head and the platen roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent E. Goodwin, Donald L. Karn, John D. Mistyurik, John R. Monteith, Mark A. Seale, David R. Wisecup
  • Patent number: 5009739
    Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held labeler having a housing with a handle, a thermal print head for printing on labels of a composite label web, a platen roll cooperable with the print head, a delaminator for delaminating printed labels, an applicator for applying printed labels, and a brake for arresting the platen roll to prevent loss of print registration during application of a label. The operative components of the labeler are readily accessible for servicing, and yet the labeler is simple in construction. The labeler has an improved print head mounting structure for facilitating precise alignment and pressure contact between the print head and the platen roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent E. Goodwin, Donald L. Karn, John D. Mistyurik
  • Patent number: 4980009
    Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held labeler having a housing with a handle, a thermal print head for printing on labels of a composite label web, a platen roll cooperable with the print head, a delaminator for delaminating printed labels, an applicator for applying printed labels, and a brake for arresting the platen roll to prevent loss of print registration during application of a label. The operative components of the labeler are readily accessible for servicing, and yet the labeler is simple in construction. The labeler has an improved print head mounting structure for facilitating precise alignment and pressure contact between the print head and the platen roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent E. Goodwin, Donald L. Karn, John D. Mistvurik, John R. Monteith, Mark A. Seale, David R. Wisecup
  • Patent number: 4956045
    Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held labeler having a housing with a handle, a thermal print head for printing on labels of a composite label web, a platen roll cooperable with the print head, a delaminator for delaminating printed labels, an applicator for applying printed labels, and a brake for arresting the platen roll to prevent loss of print registration during application of a label. The operative components of the labeler are readily accessible for servicing, and yet the labeler is simple in construction. The labeler has an improved print head mounting structure for facilitating precise alignment and pressure contact between the print head and the platen roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent E. Goodwin, Donald L. Karn, John D. Mistyurik, John R. Monteith, Mark A. Seale, David R. Wisecup
  • Patent number: 4584938
    Abstract: There is disclosed a printing band print head having a one-piece, dimensionally accurate, mounting block with integral end plates, the mounting block having a cradle for rotatably supporting drive wheels, printing bands with long printing characters and short human readable characters, a selector cooperable with any selected drive wheel, the selector being easy to assemble and including a knob connected to a selector shaft, an indicator axially shiftable as a unit with the selector, the selector shaft being rotatable with respect to the indicator, a sleeve on the shaft, and the sleeve having detent means and driver means. Printing bands coupled to the drive wheels pass about direction changing means and a support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Karn
  • Patent number: 4563235
    Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held labeler for applying labels from a composite label web wound into a label roll. The labeler has a cantilevered leaf spring which supports a portion of the composite that has been paid out of the label roll. A pair of fingers is cantilevered to the leaf spring and is in straddling operative relationship to the label roll. A cooperative arrangement on the labeler housing and on the fingers retains the fingers in the operative relationship while enabling the leaf spring to deflect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Karn
  • Patent number: 4524686
    Abstract: There is disclosed a print head and method of making same, in which the print head has spaced first and second side plates connected by guide members. The side plates support mounting blocks which mount drive wheels for printing bands. The mounting blocks are strongly connected to the first side plate but are weakly connected to the second side plate and the guide members are strongly connected to the second side plate and weakly connected to the second side plate for ease of assembly and disassembly. Selectors pass through openings in the second side plate. An indicator coupled to each selector is guided by a pair of the guide members. The selector is selectively engageable with any drive wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Karn
  • Patent number: 4280863
    Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held label printing and applying apparatus having an impression control mechanism. The apparatus includes a pair of relatively movable slides. A first slide is driven in response to movement of a manually operable actuator and a second slide which carries the print head is slidably mounted on the first slide. During the initial actuation of the actuator, the first and second slides move as a unit until the second slide is stopped by a shoulder of a latch. Continued movement of the actuator and travel of the first slide causes energy to be stored in a spring arrangement. Upon further movement of the actuator and continued travel of the first slide the latch is tripped and the spring arrangement drives the second slide and causes the print head to be driven into a straight line into printing cooperation with the platen. There is also enclosed an arrangement by which the print head can be releasably connected to the second slide. The apparatus also includes an improved spring assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul H. Hamisch, Jr, Donald L. Karn, James A. Makley
  • Patent number: 4267006
    Abstract: A hand held labeler has a movable print head with selectable printing means for successively printing character lines on a series of pressure sensitive labels carried by a web from which the printed labels are successively delaminated. The labeler includes a label applicator formed by a plurality of wheels mounted for rotation on a support shaft and having label engaging peripheral surfaces. The label applicating wheels are adapted to be assembled on the shaft in different arrangements with each other and with spacer members for selectively locating the label engaging peripheral surfaces according to the location of the character lines printed on the labels to avoid engaging the lines before applicating and before the printing ink sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1981
    Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Karn, James A. Makley
  • Patent number: 4035225
    Abstract: Disclosed are three embodiments of a hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels. All the embodiments are disclosed as having a housing, a rigid, metal, frame plate mounted by the housing, a platen and a cooperating print head, a delaminator for delaminating printed labels from the web of supporting material on which the labels are carried, an applicator for applying the printed labels, a feed wheel having teeth for engaging and advancing the web, a manually operable actuator drivingly connected to the feed wheel and the print head, a brake, and an ink roll for inking the print head. The apparatus also includes a feed wheel assembly having a feed wheel driven by a pawl and ratchet mechanism. The pawl and ratchet mechanism is adjustably connected to the feed wheel and a rolling contact type one-way clutch prevents loss of tension in the web between the brake and the feed wheel. In one embodiment, the feed wheel and a drive wheel are selectively positionable by a clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul H. Hamisch, Jr., Donald L. Karn
  • Patent number: 3954545
    Abstract: Disclosed are three embodiments of a hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels. All the embodiments are disclosed as having a housing, a rigid, metal, frame plate mounted by the housing, a platen and a cooperating print head, a delaminator for delaminating printed labels from the web of supporting material on which the labels are carried, an applicator for applying the printed labels, a feed wheel having teeth for engaging and advancing the web, a manually operable actuator drivingly connected to the feed wheel and the print head, a brake, and an ink roll for inking the print head. The apparatus also includes a feed wheel assembly having a feed wheel driven by a pawl and ratchet mechanism. The pawl and ratchet mechanism is adjustably connected to the feed wheel and a rolling contact type one-way clutch prevents loss of tension in the web between the brake and the feed wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1974
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1976
    Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul H. Hamisch, Jr., Donald L. Karn