Abstract: A set of flexible endless printing bands are arranged in two rows spaced in tandem relation for simultaneously printing two lines of characters. Each band in each row is supported by a corresponding indexing gear which includes a thin flange portion projecting outwardly between adjacent bands. A row of corresponding idle gears is disposed between the rows of printing bands, and each idle gear connects the two indexing gears supporting a corresponding set of bands in the two rows. A band indexing mechanism is axially movable within one row of indexing gears and provides for simultaneously indexing each set of corresponding printing bands. Each endless printing band may be molded with a series of long pads each supporting a numerical printing character and integrally connected by thin flexible link portions and short pads carrying visually readable characters.

Abstract: There are disclosed various embodiments of a composite web of pressure sensitive labels, method and apparatus for making such embodiments of the composite web, and method and apparatus by which a composite web of labels is advanced and by which labels are successively printed and applied to merchandise.

Abstract: There are disclosed various embodiments of a composite web of pressure sensitive labels, method and apparatus for making such embodiments of the composite web, and method and apparatus by which a composite web of labels is advanced and by which labels are successively printed and applied to merchandise.

Abstract: A set of flexible endless printing bands are arranged in two rows spaced in tandem relation for simultaneously printing two lines of characters. Each band in each row is supported by a corresponding indexing gear which includes a thin flange portion projecting outwardly between adjacent bands. A row of corresponding idle gears is disposed between the rows of printing bands, and each idle gear connects the two indexing gears supporting a corresponding set of bands in the two rows. A band indexing mechanism is axially movable within one row of indexing gears and provides for simultaneously indexing each set of corresponding printing bands. Each endless printing band may be molded with a series of long pads each supporting a numerical printing character and integrally connected by thin flexible link portions and short pads carrying visually readable characters.

Abstract: A wide endless flexible band (10) is molded on a flat core blade (12) with one group of laterally extending rows of outwardly projecting printing characters (16) molded on one side of the core blade between a set of laterally extending notched guide bars (32). The notches within the guide bars are used to align the wide endless band on a rotary cylindrical arbor (40) precisely with a set of spaced cutters (44) which slit the wide band at laterally spaced intervals into a plurality of relatively narrow endless printing bands. The wide endless band is also molded with a second group of raised characters (14) which correspond to the printing characters and are positioned on the other side of the core blade between a set of laterally extending continuous guide bars (24).

Abstract: A hand-held labeler or apparatus provides for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels and includes a housing, a rigid metal frame plate mounted on the housing, a platen and a cooperating print head, and a delaminator for delaminating printed labels from the web of supporting material on which the labels are carried. The labeler also includes 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 feed wheel is driven by a pawl and ratchet mechanism which is adjustably connected to the feed wheel. The composite strip of labels and their supporting or carrier web are fed from a supply roll through a guide member which selectively accommodates both narrow and wide strips of labels and initiates their paths through the labeler.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for attaching tags using fasteners of a type having a bar section and a button section joined by a filament section. Opposed operating levers are pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the body. Each lever carries a cam. A first carrier is mounted by the body and a second carrier is mounted by the first carrier. A push rod is connected to the second carrier. Each cam cooperates with a respective roller. A rack is secured to each body section and the second carrier has a pair of racks. Each gear meshes with a respective body section rack and a respective second carrier rack. A pawl is coupled to the first carrier. Action of the operating levers causes the cams to drive the carrier. Movement of the first carrier causes the racks and gears to drive the push rod forward until the pawl is moved to a ready position.

Abstract: There are disclosed various embodiments of a composite web of pressure sensitive labels, method and apparatus for making such embodiments of the composite web, and method and apparatus by which a composite web of labels is advanced and by which labels are successively printed and applied to merchandise.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for attaching tags using fasteners of a type having a bar section and a button section joined by a filament section. Opposed operating levers are pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the body. Each lever carries a cam. A first carrier is mounted by the body and a second carrier is mounted by the first carrier. A push rod is connected to the second carrier. Each cam cooperates with a respective roller. A rack is secured to each body section and the second carrier has a pair of racks. Each gear meshes with a respective body section rack and a respective second carrier rack. A pawl is coupled to the first carrier. Action of the operating levers causes the cams to drive the first carrier. Movement of the first carrier causes the racks and gears to drive the push rod forward until the pawl is moved to a ready position.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for attaching tags to merchandise using fasteners. The fasteners are arranged in a one-piece fastener assembly. Each fastener includes a bar section and a button section joined by a filament section. The apparatus includes a body and a needle connected to the body. A fastener advancing means is used to advance one fastener at a time into dispensing relationship with the needle. The fastener advancing means includes a toothed wheel. A one-piece pawl includes a U-shaped portion having a pair of flexible resilient arms. One of the arms has a tooth cooperable with the toothed wheel and the other arm is cooperable with an annular bearing surface which is disposed adjacent the wheel. The pawl includes a pair of integrally formed flexible resilient members or arms providing abutment faces. A pair of drive faces is connected to a gear segment which is driven by a manually operable actuator.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for attaching tags and the like to a variety of articles by means of fasteners. The apparatus is provided with a body and a one-piece needle having a piercing end extending outwardly of the body and having an enlarged portion. A bore extends lengthwise of the needle and an elongated first slot in the side of the needle extends into the bore. A second slot in the side of the enlarged portion enables entry of the bar section of a fastener into alignment with and into the bore. A one-piece knife is inserted into the enlarged portion of the needle. When a push rod is actuated the bar section is severed from a fastener assembly utilized by the apparatus, and thereafter the fastener assembly is advanced to bring a bar section of another fastener into the bore.

Abstract: There are disclosed various embodiments of a composite web of pressure sensitive labels, method and apparatus for making such embodiments of the composite web, and method and apparatus by which a composite web of labels is advanced and by which labels are successively printed and applied to merchandise.

Abstract: There are disclosed various embodiments of a composite web of pressure sensitive labels, an apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels carried on a web of supporting material. The apparatus includes a housing having a handle, the housing supports a platen and a print head which preferably moves linearly into and out of printing cooperation with the labels. The print head has a pair of spaced apart racks which cooperate with respective gear sections of spaced apart gears. An actuator preferably in the form of a lever carries spaced apart gear sections in mesh with gear sections of the gears. One of the gears drives a pawl and ratchet mechanism which in turn drives a toothed feed wheel. Means are provided to vary the positional relationship of ratchet teeth of the pawl and ratchet mechanism with respect to the feed wheel so that labels can be brought into precise registry with the platen and a delaminator.

Abstract: There is disclosed a magnetic printing base for one or more printing plates, a method of making the magnetic base, and a mold in which moldable, non-magnetic adhesive material is molded about various parts of the magnetic base. The base is structured to permit magnetic circuit devices and end plates to be interconnected by the non-magnetic material into a unitary arrangement. Each magnetic circuit device includes a flat magnet disposed between and in contact with a pair of flat magnetizable plates. The permanent magnetsextend short of the final desired dimension of the base. The plates and the molded material initially extend beyond the final desired dimension of the base, but are trimmed off by a cutter to the final desired dimension after assembly of the base.

Abstract: There are disclosed various embodiments of a composite web of pressure sensitive labels, method and apparatus for making such embodiments of the composite web, and method and apparatus by which a composite web of labels is advanced and by which labels are successively printed and applied to merchandise.