Abstract: A control mechanism for operably controlling three functions of the loader mechanism on a tractor-loader is disclosed wherein a longitudinal, fore and aft movement of the control lever effects operation of one function, while a transverse movement of the control lever effects operation of a second function, and a rotational movement of the control lever about the axis thereof controls the third function of the loader mechanism. The control lever includes an elongated inner member affixed to a plate being supported from the frame by a universal joint permitting pivotal movement of the plate in the transverse and longitudinal directions in response to a corresponding manipulation of the control lever. The control lever also includes an elongated tubular member rotatably mounted on the inner member and connected to an additional linkage to translate rotational movement of the elongated tubular member into linear motion for controlling operation of an auxiliary device on the loader mechanism.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held tag attacher for attaching tags to merchandise and the like. The attacher includes a hopper for holding a stack of tags to be attached, a tag feeder for feeding one tag at a time into alignment with a needle at an attaching position, mechanism for advancing the needle through the tag at the attaching position, a push rod for pushing a bar of a fastener through the needle, and means for feeding fasteners one-by-one to the needle, wherein the tag feeder, the needle advancing mechanism, the push rod and the fastener feeding means operate in sequence by one-hand operation by the user.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held labeler which uses labels releasably adhered to a carrier web. The labeler has a body with a pair of identical body sections. The body mounts first, second and third feed rolls. The first and third feed rolls project beyond the body and cooperate respectively with the second feed roll. The body has a delaminator and a guideway for the carrier web. The carrier web can be threaded through the guideway and about the delaminator in either direction. In either event, the first, second and third feed rolls cooperate with the carrier web to advance it and effect label delamination. Depending on the direction of threading, either the first or the third feed roll is used to advance the carrier web by rolling that feed roll along the surface to be labeled. A label roll is held captive in a holder having two identical body sections. In an alternative embodiment, a label strip winding feature enables a strip of labels to be wound into a roll for subsequent use in the labeler.

Abstract: There is disclosed a print wheel and a method of making a print wheel. The print wheel includes a generally annular base and a molded, unitary, flexible printing band having end portions. The printing band has a series of different printing elements disposed at spaced intervals along its length between the end portions. The printing band is disposed about the outer periphery of the base and the end portions of the band are inserted into spaced recesses in the outer periphery of the base. There is a printing element support between the end portions and one of the printing elements is disposed at a printing position on the support.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held label printing and applying apparatus for printing on labels releasably adhered to a web of supporting material, the apparatus having a print head and a platen with an impression control mechanism for the print head, a traveling inker with an easily replaceable inking member, a mechanism for adjusting the registration of a label with respect to the print head, and a return spring subassembly or module which is easy to handle and assemble into operative relation with the remainder of the apparatus.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a selective printing apparatus adapted to be used in a hand held labeler. The apparatus includes selectively settable printing members driven by wheels coupled by gearing with read wheels for indicating the selected data to be printed. The read and print wheels are driven by a manually movable, shiftable and rotatable selector shaft. The print wheels are detented and the selector shaft is detented within holes in the print wheels. An indicator slidably mounted by a stationary frame is coupled to the selector shaft through a lost-motion connection to enable the print head to move between printing and non-printing positions.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held label printing and applying apparatus for printing on labels releasably adhered to a web of supporting material, the apparatus having a print head and a platen with an impression control mechanism for the print head, a traveling inker with an easily replaceable inking member, a mechanism for adjusting the registration of a label with respect to the print head, and a return spring subassembly or module which is easy to handle and assemble into operative relation with the remainder of the apparatus.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held label printing and applying apparatus for printing on labels releasably adhered to a web of supporting material, the apparatus having a print head and a platen with an impression control mechanism for the print head, a traveling inker with an easily replaceable inking member, a mechanism for adjusting the registration of a label with respect to the print head, and a return spring subassembly or module which is easy to handle and assemble into operative relation with the remainder of the apparatus.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a selective printing apparatus adapted to be used in a hand held labeler. The apparatus includes selectively settable printing members driven by wheels coupled by gearing with read wheels for indicating the selected data to be printed. The read and print wheels are driven by a manually movable, shiftable and rotatable selector shaft. The print wheels are detented and the selector shaft is detented within holes in the print wheels. An indicator slidably mounted by a stationary frame is coupled to the selector shaft through a lost-motion connection to enable the print head to move between printing and non-printing positions.

Abstract: There is disclosed a printing, feeding and severing method and apparatus for carrying out the method. The apparatus includes a print head assembly and a platen assembly movable relatively toward and away from each other into and out of printing cooperation, mechanism for inking the print head assembly, mechanism for feeding a web of record members to between the print head assembly and the platen assembly, the web being in roll form and there being means to assist the gradual unwinding of the roll with gradual paying out of web material from the roll to the feeding mechanism, an idler contacting the web and disposed at a slight angle to the direction of feed of the web to cause the web to follow a feed edge, record severing means disposed downstream of the print head assembly and the platen assembly, and a modular support assembly of a print head of the print head assembly.

Abstract: There is disclosed a printing, feeding and severing method and apparatus for carrying out the method. The apparatus includes a print head assembly and a platen assembly movable relatively toward and away from each other into and out of printing cooperation, mechanism for inking the print head assembly, mechanism for feeding a web of record members to between the print head assembly and the platen assembly, the web being in roll form and there being means to assist the gradual unwinding of the roll with gradual paying out of web material from the roll to the feeding mechanism, an idler contacting the web and disposed at a slight angle to the direction of feed of the web to cause the web to follow a feed edge, record severing means disposed downstream of the print head assembly and the platen assembly, and a modular support assembly of a print head of the print head assembly.

Abstract: There is disclosed a set of flexible, endless, printing bands. Each printing band has a plurality of elongated printing blocks, flexible hinges joining adjacent printing blocks at their base portions, a printing element on the surface of each printing block, and at least one tooth on the underside of each printing block. The printing blocks are extremely long compared to the gap between adjacent printing blocks at their outer portions, the hinge length is substantially greater than the hinge thickness, the thickness of the printing block is many times greater than the thickness of the hinge, and the length of the printing band at its outer portion is many times greater than the hinge length.