Abstract: There is disclosed a tag for use in an electronic article surveillance system including a housing, a detectable marker held by the housing, and a releasable magnetic lock. The lock, which cannot be defeated by deflecting the housing, securely grips a pin by means of opposed jaws. The jaws and a pair of leaf springs are constructed of a single piece of sheet metal. Magnetic biasing of the sheet metal overcomes the forces exerted by the springs and causes the jaws to open to release the pin.

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 a tag attaching method, particularly a method of pinning tags to merchandise and apparatus for carrying out the method. The illustrated apparatus includes a plunger and a cooperable anvil between which a tag and merchandise are positioned and through which a fastener specifically a pin is driven to attach the tag to the merchandise. While the pin is being driven through the tag and merchandise, a movable pin guiding and crimping member moves relative to the plunger, the tag and the pin. The pin is driven firstly through the tag, secondly through the merchandise, thirdly through the merchandise again, fourthly through the tag again, and fifthly through the tag again, and thereupon the movable pin guiding and pin crimping member is moved again to crimp the pin. A bottom tag in a stack is separated by feeding it toward the pinning zone in one machine cycle and the separated tag is positioned between the anvil and the plunger during the early part of the next machine cycle.

Abstract: There is disclosed a plurality of embodiments of tag attaching apparatus of the type having a hollow needle with a slot along one side, an ejector or push rod aligned with the needle, and feeding means for successively advancing an assembly of fasteners into position to be pushed through the needle by means of the push rod.

Abstract: There is disclosed a tag attaching method, particularly a method of pinning tags to merchandise and apparatus for carrying out the method. The illustrated apparatus includes a plunger and a cooperable anvil between which a tag and merchandise are positioned and through which a fastener specifically a pin is driven to attach the tag to the merchandise. While the pin is being driven through the tag and merchandise, a movable pin guiding and crimping member moves relative to the plunger, the tag and the pin. The pin is driven firstly through the tag, secondly through the merchandise, thirdly through the merchandise again, fourthly through the tag again, and fifthly through the tag again, and thereupon the movable pin guiding and pin crimping member is moved again to crimp the pin. A bottom tag in a stack is separated by feeding it toward the pinning zone in one machine cycle and the separated tag is positioned between the anvil and the plunger during the early part of the next machine cycle.

Abstract: There is disclosed a plurality of embodiments of tag attaching apparatus of the type having a hollow needle with a slot along one side, an ejector or push rod aligned with the needle, and feeding means for successively advancing an assembly of fasteners into position to be pushed through the needle by means of the push rod.