Abstract: A system and method are shown for automatically providing price quotes for various barcode printing supply products. The system displays a default quote when a new quote is to be provided. The default quote identifies default values for a number of variables defining a default barcode printing supply product; at least one default quantity value and a price for the specified quantity of the default product. To obtain a price quote on a new product the user need only change the variable values that distinguish the new product form the default product. Further, the system stores a set of allowable options in association with each of a number of the user selectable variable values. When one of these variable values is selected, the system automatically updates the values of other variables on the display in accordance with the allowable option set of the one variable value. The system also allows the quoted price to be deviated by various amounts depending upon the reason for the price deviation request.

Abstract: A portable, on-line barcode printer has a very small number of variable function keys, each of which is actuable to perform a large number of non-data entry functions for monitoring various components, performing diagnostic testing and setting up the operation of the printer. A display is positioned in association with the function keys and provides both a message section for displaying a text or pictorial message in association with a current mode of operation and an icon section for displaying an icon in association with each of the function keys wherein each icon symbolizes a non-data entry function selectable by actuation of the associated key in the current mode. A controller enables one or more of the function keys in each of a plurality of modes in the printer and controls the message and icon set depicted in each mode so as to change the function of each of the variable function keys.

Abstract: There is disclosed a portable thermal printer having a printer housing, a printing mechanism and an ink ribbon cartridge containing an ink ribbon cartridge containing an ink ribbon. The cartridge has a cartridge housing and an improved brake for applying a slight braking force on a core of an ink ribbon supply roll in the housing. The cartridge is easy to load onto the printer. The cartridge forms part of the printer housing and is latched thereto. The cartridge is slid onto the printer and the cartridge housing detents into position.

Abstract: There is disclosed a printer for printing and dispensing labels releasably adhered to a carrier web. The printer includes a print head and a cooperable platen roll, a delaminator for delaminating printed labels from the web, a take-up roll for drawing the web about the delaminator, and a slip clutch for limiting the amount of driving force applied to the web by the take-up roll. Slippage occurs at the slip clutch but not between the take-up roll and the web.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held labeler which is easy to load, clean and service. The labeler has a gear driven print head wherein the print head is situated on an upper housing section and the print head is actuated from a lower housing section. The upper housing section can be moved to an open position without interfering with the maintenance of the drive connection with the print head or the advance of a label carrying web through the labeler. An inker enables an ink roller to be easily inserted and removed without ink from the ink roller being transferred to the user's hands. An impression control device has only a small number of parts and is easy to assemble.

Abstract: A portable, on-line barcode printer has a very small number of variable function keys, each of which is actuable to perform a large number of non-data entry functions for monitoring various components, performing diagnostic testing and setting up the operation of the printer. A display is positioned in association with the function keys and provides both a message section for displaying a text or pictorial message in association with a current mode of operation and an icon section for displaying an icon in association with each of the function keys wherein each icon symbolizes a non-data entry function selectable by actuation of the associated key in the current mode. A controller enables one or more of the function keys in each of a plurality of modes in the printer and controls the message and icon set depicted in each mode so as to change the function of each of the variable function keys.

Abstract: There is disclosed a portable thermal printer having a printer housing, a printing mechanism and an ink ribbon cartridge containing an ink ribbon cartridge containing an ink ribbon. The cartridge has a cartridge housing and an improved brake for applying a slight braking force on a core of an ink ribbon supply roll in the housing. The cartridge is easy to load onto the printer. The cartridge forms part of the printer housing and is latched thereto. The cartridge is slid onto the printer and the cartridge housing detents into position.

Abstract: There is disclosed a lightweight portable printer having a frame or housing with a print head and a cooperable platen roll mounted in the housing. The housing pivotally mounts a subassembly. The subassembly mounts an electric motor and gearing driven by the motor for driving the platen roll. The subassembly is resiliently urged to press the print head against the platen roll. The printer has a front door which provides access to the inside of the housing. The front door mounts the platen roll, a label delaminator, a pressure roll, a holder for mounting a supply roll of labels or tags, and a latch for latching the door to the housing and for camming the pressure roll into and out of cooperation with the platen roll.

Abstract: There is disclosed a web of record members of the composite label web, tag and linerless types with cracks or fissures through the webs so that the position of the web can be detected by an optical detector. Apparatus can be used to convert the web into more usable form which includes for provision of optically detectable cracks or fissures in the web. These cracks are made by crushing the web locally between one or more crushing cutters and a back-up roll which cooperates with zero clearance. The method and apparatus can produce a reliably detectable web at low cost. The optical detector includes a source of light and a bicell detector between which the web with the cracks or fissures passes. The bicell detector produces a first output signal representing the amount of light impinging on a first portion of the detector and a second output signal representing the amount of light impinging on a second portion of the detector.

Abstract: There is disclosed a portable thermal printer having a printer housing, a printing mechanism and an ink ribbon cartridge containing an ink ribbon cartridge containing an ink ribbon. The cartridge has a cartridge housing and an improved brake for applying a slight braking force on a core of an ink ribbon supply roll in the housing. The cartridge is easy to load onto the printer. The cartridge forms part of the printer housing and is latched thereto. The cartridge is slid onto the printer and the cartridge housing detents into position.

Abstract: There is disclosed an endless flexible printing band and method of making such printing bands. A wide endless band having columns and rows of raised printing characters is molded onto a sheet having columns and rows of visually readable characters corresponding to the printing characters. Following molding, the wide band is slit into a plurality of printing bands.

Abstract: There is disclosed a lightweight portable printer having a frame or housing with a print head and a cooperable platen roll mounted in the housing. The housing pivotally mounts a subassembly. The subassembly mounts an electric motor and gearing driven by the motor for driving the platen roll. The subassembly is resiliently urged to press the print head against the platen roll. The printer has a front door which provides access to the inside of the housing. The front door mounts the platen roll, a label delaminator, a pressure roll, a holder for mounting a supply roll of labels or tags, and a latch for latching the door to the housing and for camming the pressure roll into and out of cooperation with the platen roll.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held labeler for printing and applying labels and for printing tags. The labeler has a keyboard, a display, a scanner, and a battery-containing handle. The labeler is user-friendly and compact. The labeler can be easily loaded with label and tag webs of different widths. The labeler has a discharge chute for the carrier web which can be slid to a position outside the labeler for easy cleaning.

Abstract: There is disclosed a lightweight portable printer having a frame or housing with a print head and a cooperable platen roll mounted in the housing. The housing pivotally mounts a subassembly. The subassembly mounts an electric motor and gearing driven by the motor for driving the platen roll. The subassembly is resiliently urged to press the print head against the platen roll. The printer has a front door which provides access to the inside of the housing. The front door mounts the platen roll, a label delaminator, a pressure roll, a holder for mounting a supply roll of labels or tags, and a latch for latching the door to the housing and for camming the pressure roll into and out of cooperation with the platen roll.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an ink roller assembly include a capillary ink metering unit and a surrounding porous ink retaining sleeve, wherein the unit is comprised of a pair of capillary sections connected to each other and wherein capillary sections include a hollow shaft and discs with intervening ink capillary chambers interconnected by passages. In another embodiment, a capillary ink metering unit includes discs on a solid shaft, wherein there are passages interconnecting capillary chambers. In yet other embodiments, separate sections are provided to enable inks of different colors, viscosities and/or types to be applied to printing members. There is also provision to meter ink to printing members having different faces or areas in accordance with or as function of the sizes of those areas. The ink roller assembly with separate sections can carry both visible ink and visually alterable ink for coding purposes.

Abstract: There is disclosed a package containing a series of side-by-side label rolls and an ink roll package positioned in a tubular opening in the label rolls and having a flange against the side of the endmost roll. The flange provides a stop to limit migration or insertion of the ink roll package into the opening. The flange provides a surface to which a cover sheet or label can be releasably attached. The cover sheet can carry a substantial amount of information and is peelable to release the ink rolls.

Abstract: There is disclosed an endless flexible printing band and method of making such printing bands. A wide endless band having columns and rows of raised printing characters is molded onto a sheet having columns and rows of visually readable characters corresponding to the printing characters. Following molding, the wide band is slit into a plurality of printing bands.

Abstract: A thermal printer early printhead failure prediction system detects possible printhead and/or printing clement failure in response to the sensed resistance of the printhead or an individual element thereof. A microprocessor of the printer monitors the resistive trends of the printing elements. A warning is generated when a characteristic of the resistive trend exceeds a predetermined boundary.

Abstract: A drug tracking system and method for use in hospitals, pharmacies, etc. uses a portable barcode scanning and printing system to reduce errors in the tracking information and to facilitate the ease and efficiency of the drug tracking operation. The portable scanning and printing system automatically prompts the user to enter data necessary for tracking one or more drugs. The portable scanning and printing system also prompts the user to select a particular drug and/or quantity. Automatic verification of the user entered data is performed by the portable system so as to warn the user via a displayed message that the wrong drug and/or quantity was selected or to prompt the user to recount and/or re-enter data so that any discrepancies can be immediately corrected. The portable scanning and printing system also prints alpha-numeric and barcode information on labels that are used to continue the drug tracking operation at other locations.

Abstract: There is disclosed a printer with a print head for printing on a web of record members. The web is held in roll form on a holder. The web roll and the web are center-justified with respect to the centerline of the print head. The holder has a series of steps extending in each direction away from the centerline. The steps provide pairs of opposed guides or shoulders between which the web rolls can be positioned. There is a pair of guides that corresponds to each width of ink roll.