Abstract: The disclosure concerns a printing platen for use with a hand labeler, or the like. The platen assures there will be clear imprint by the types of the printing head, with all characters having an averaged density, even if there are discrepancies in the heights and orientations among the type surfaces of the printing head of the hand labeler. The platen includes an impression plate formed from an elastic member having a rough surface, onto which a continuous strip of labels is fed and against which the type surfaces are contacted through the label strip. The impression plate roughness may comprise multiple parallel corrugations or an array of a large number of projections, e.g. a checkerboard array. These projections may have any of square, pyramid, hexagonal and semispherical cross-sectional shapes.

Abstract: A hand operated label printing machine in which a series of labels are serially fed onto a printing platen in response to the squeezing of a hand lever so that they may be imprinted with selected indicia. The hand labeler is equipped with a constant pressure printing mechanism interposed between the hand lever and the frame of the hand labeler. That mechanism comprises a biased cam pivotally mounted to the hand lever and a roller on a biased support which support is pivotally mounted to the machine frame. The cam and roller are brought into abutment contact while the hand lever is being squeezed, and springs bias them into abutment and prevent their bypassage. The label printing force is the force that has to be applied for the cam to ride over the roller, which occurs when one of the springs resiliently deforms.

Abstract: A system is provided which weighs packages and applies individualized labels to each package indicating the weight of the package, the date, or other desired individualized information. A conveyor includes a weighing section where the weight of the product is converted into digital form and supplied to a data processing system. Individual labels are printed by electrostatic techniques including both bar code machine readable designations and alpha-numeric characters. The label printing and applying apparatus includes a print station, a toner application station, a fusing station, and a peeling blade for separating the label from the backing sheet, and an applicator station. As the individual labels are advanced to the applicator station, blank labels will pass under the print and toner stations, and these labels will not be charged or toned, so that the tape may be reversed and moved back to the appropriate position for applying individualized data to these blank labels.

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.

Abstract: A labelling machine has a push button switch, actuation of which causes a label to be printed by a thermographic printing head with selected data which has been stored in a microprocessor by operation of a keyboard. The printed label is fed by an electrically powered drive mechanism controlled by the microprocessor to a dispensing position from which the label can be applied to an article and a further label is advanced from a supply to the printing head. The label supply is a continuous strip of separated labels with self-adhesive covered by a backing strip which is peeled away as the printed label reaches the dispensing position. Spaced optically or magnetically detectable markings on the label strip are detected in the machine to provide signals to the microprocessor for obtaining registration of each label with the printing head.

Abstract: A label positioning mechanism for use with a label printing machine: The label positioning mechanism includes a feed wheel which is rotatably mounted in the body of the printing machine and is formed on its circumference with a label strip advancing surface. A label positioning member is pivotally connected to the machine body such that it is rotatable toward and away from the label advancing surface of the feed wheel. Springs normally urge the label positioning member toward the feed wheel. There is an arm mechanism that has one end fixed to an operating shaft. The arm has another end that is pivotally connected to the label positioning member. The operating shaft is rotatably mounted in the machine body. The operating force of the operating shaft may be transmitted to the label positioning member when the operating shaft is actuated.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a label strip inserting device for use in a label printing machine of the type in which a tape-like label strip is carried between a label feed wheel and a label depressing member. The label strip inserting device comprises a platen, which is pivotally secured to the machine body of the label printing machine. An actuating member is interlocked with the platen and is pivoted thereby. A label depressing member is interlocked with the actuating member and it has a label depressing surface to drive the label strip toward the outer surface of the label feed wheel. There are links, which are interlocked with both the platen and the label depressing member. The label inserting device is constructed so that, when a tape-like label strip is to be inserted into the machine body, the platen may be turned to a full open position to separate the label depressing member from the surface of the label feed wheel, thereby forming a large guide passage for insertion of the label strip.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a constant pressure printing mechanism for use with a hand labeler. A continuous strip of labels is fed in increments by manual squeezing of a hand lever. The constant pressure printing mechanism includes a retaining member hinged to the frame of the hand labeler and biased by a spring into abutment contact with an actuating member, which is hinged to the hand lever. The actuating member is also biased by a tension spring to shift out of engagement with the retaining member until the actuating member is halted by a stopper. A release member is mounted on the hand lever for releasing the retaining member from engagement with the actuating member when the hand lever is squeezed toward the grip. Thus, printing is effected under a constant pressure that is determined by the inertia of the hand lever caused by the release of said actuating member irrespective of the intensity of the squeezing force of the hand lever.

Abstract: A guide which maintains an edge surface of a tape, such as an elongated strip of print stock, in contact with a reference surface formed on a base of the guide as the tape is moved in a predetermined direction and along a predetermined path. Preferably, the guide includes a first roller which is mounted on the base in proximity to the reference surface and which has an axis of rotation which is inclined, in an imaginary plane parallel to the predetermined direction of tape movement, from a normal drawn to the reference surface. A second roller is also mounted on the base in proximity to the reference surface and has its axis of rotation substantially parallel to that of the first roller, with corresponding portions of the peripheral surfaces of the first and second rollers being in proximity to each other to define a nip therebetween for compressing the tape.

Abstract: A label strip charging mechanism for use in a hand labeler which is equipped with a feed mechanism having a feeding roller for feeding a continuous label strip: The label strip charging mechanism includes a pressure plate which is made pivotable with respect to the hand labeler and which is formed with a curved surface that follows the profile of the outer periphery of the feeding roller. A coil spring is connected to the pressure plate so as to normally bias the plate away from the feeding roller. A snap connection is used to retain the pressure plate in the vicinity of the feeding roller, against the bias of the coil spring at a position to form a restricted passage for the label strip. An actuating lever of the pressure plate is manually operated to release the snap connection so that the pressure plate can be moved away from the feeding roller by the action of the coil spring to establish an enlarged clearance thereby to facilitate charging of the label strip.

Abstract: A label strip jam preventing mechanism for use in a hand labeler wherein the labeler is equipped with a feed mechanism having a feeding roller that is rotatably mounted on the frame of the hand labeler for feeding a continuous label strip. A label strip charging mechanism having a pressure plate covering the feeding roller for assuring engagement between the feeding roller and the label strip. A platen which is reciprocally movable toward and away from a printing head for printing the label strip. The label jam preventing mechanism includes a passage plate which is pivotally connected to the frame and to the platen for providing a passage between the pressure plate and the platen, as the platen shifts in position. A first label holding assembly holds both edges of the label strip at the passage plate. A second label holding assembly holds the both edges and the center portion of the label strip at the pressure plate.

Abstract: There is disclosed label printing and applying apparatus by which labels are successively printed and applied to merchandise. The apparatus feeds pressure sensitive labels mounted on a web of supporting material to a printing zone and to a delaminating zone. An applicator disposed downstream of the delaminating zone is used to apply the labels to merchandise.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a cartridge type supply device for use with a portable, one-hand-operable labeling machine of the type including a printing mechanism with printing types arranged for imprinting inscriptions on each of a series of labels traveling along a predetermined path through the machine toward a dispensing opening of the machine. The ink supply device comprises a cartridge holder pivotally supported at one end thereof within the labeling machine in a readily detachable manner and a replaceable inking roller cartridge supported detachably by the other end of said cartridge holder said cartridge including a rotatable inking roller. The cartridge holder is spring-biased to urge the inking roller onto surfaces of the printing types of the printing mechanism of the labeling machine. When the inking roller cartridge is used up, the cartridge holder can be taken out of the machine together with the used cartridge. A cartridge box for housing spare inking roller cartridges is provided.

Abstract: An ink supply device for inking the types of a hand labeler device, usually including at least two inking rollers which are rotatable over the type surfaces of a printing head; these ink rollers are removably held in an ink roller assembly which is, in turn, removably held in a movable holder; guide grooves in the side walls of the hand labeler frame guide the ink rollers over the type surfaces; roller cartridge frames are attached removably to the ink roller assembly for holding the ink rollers; retaining projections formed on at least one of the cartridge frames retain it in the holder and the projections act as knobs for attachment and removal of the corresponding cartridge frame, thus facilitating replacement of the ink rollers.

Abstract: A contant pressure printing mechanism for use with a hand labeler which prints a label: an actuating lever, which is pivotally connected to the frame of the hand labeler, is divided into a hand lever and a printing lever, and both of these levers are also pivotally connected. A printing head is carried by the printing lever. The hand lever and the printing lever are biased to move together as a unit. The operating lever engages a snap mechanism which applies a preset resistance to rotation of the operating lever as the printing lever is turned toward the printing platen. In one embodiment, the snap mechanism includes a pressure roller and a snap bail. The pressure roller is rotatably mounted to either the hand lever or the frame of the hand labeler while the snap bail is mounted pivotally to the other. As the squeezing of the hand lever increases, the operating lever snaps past the snap mechanism and the snap movement urges the printing lever toward the platen.

Abstract: A constant printing pressure mechanism for a label printing machine: in one embodiment, a pressure applying roller is attached to the free ends of the yokes or printing levers that support the printing head; a resilient pressure receiving member which is pivotally supported on the machine frame and is abutted by the pressure roller; when the hand lever is squeezed, the pressure roller is pressed to the pressure receiving member; when the force of the pressure roller both pivots the receiving member a permitted maximum distance and overcomes the compressive stress in the resilient pressure receiving member and deflects the member, then the printing stroke is effected; in another embodiment, the pressure applying roller is on the frame and the resilient pressure receiving means is on the hand lever; the pressure receiving means comprises: a supporting member attached to a hand lever; a pressure controlling member which is pivotally secured to the hand lever; a pressure receiving piece having a cam surface on th

Abstract: A constant pressure printing mechanism for use with a hand labeler: an actuating lever, pivotally connected to the frame of the hand labeler, is divided into a hand lever and a printing lever, which are pivotally connected to each other; a printing head is carried by the printing lever; a shock-absorbing tensioned spring is interposed between the hand lever and the printing lever to bias them to rotate toward each other and to rotate the printing head toward the platen; a retaining lever, pivotally attached on the hand lever, is engageable with the printing platen upon descent of the printing lever; before such engagement, the retaining lever retains the hand lever on the printing lever to move together; when the printing head moves to the platen, the retaining lever is raised away from the printing lever by its engagement with the printing platen; this enables the hand lever to further pivot slightly against the biasing force of the tension spring, even when the printing head abuts against the platen, so tha

Abstract: A constant pressure printing mechanism for use in a label printing machine: the platen is pivotally secured to the machine body; the pivotally supported, hand operated printing levers include a projection, which engages a pivotally supported platen lifting member, and the lifting member is pivoted by the projection to turn the platen toward the printing head, whereby the printing head and the platen are moved near to each other to perform the printing of labels.

Abstract: A constant pressure printing mechanism for use in a portable label printing machine, or the like: a pressing member is attached to a hand operated driving lever which carries the printing head and which is pivotally attached to the machine frame; a separate rocking lever is pivotally attached to the machine frame; a pressure receiving member attached to the rocking lever is in position to be engaged by the pressure member as the driving lever pivots; continued pivoting of the driving lever causes subsequent separation of the pressure receiving and pressure members, thereby again freeing the rocking member from being pivoted; a platen pivotally secured to the machine frame is normally biased away from the printing head; an elastic buffer member is stretched between the rocking lever and the platen for pivoting the platen toward the printing head when the rocking member is pivoted by the pressure member; with the provision of the constant pressure printing mechanism of the invention, the intensity and the conta

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.

Abstract: A printing pressure damping mechanism for use with a hand labeler: a hand lever is pivotally connected to the frame of the hand labeler. A printing head is carried by the hand lever so that it may move toward a printing platen when the hand lever is squeezed. An auxiliary lever is spaced from the hand lever and is movable to and from the hand lever. A shock absorbing coil spring is interposed under compression between the hand lever and the auxiliary lever so as to bias the levers apart. The auxiliary lever further moves against the biasing force of the coil spring when the printing head abuts the platen, so that the squeezing force which might otherwise be applied as a printing force by the printing head to the platen can be damped to a preset lever through the spring biased cooperation of the two levers. The platen is also spring biased to damp printing pressure.

Abstract: A portable label printing and applying machine: a platen to support the label to be printed is attached to the machine frame; a printing head is placed above the platen; a spring pushes the printing head down toward the platen with a constant pressure and for a constant time period, regardless of the strength and the duration of the squeezing of the operating hand lever of the machine; the printing head is restrained from descending until the spring has been adequately charged by squeezing of the hand lever, and then the printing head is released to descend. The printing head is separated from the platen immediately after its descent to and contact against the platen. In addition, there is a second spring acting on the printing head in opposition to the first mentioned spring to raise the printing head off the platen. In one embodiment, the first spring is apart from the printing head but acts on it.

Abstract: A printing pressure damping mechanism for a hand labeler: A printing platen is pivotally mounted on the frame of the hand labeler. The platen has a printing portion at one side of its center of pivotal motion. A hand lever pivotally connected to the frame of the labeler carries a printing head, which is turned toward the printing platen when the hand lever is squeezed against the biasing force of a return spring. Shock-absorbing means, comprising a leaf spring on the hand lever and an elastic abutment member on the other side of the printing platen from the printing portion engage to turn the printing portion of the printing platen toward the printing head. The hand lever is further squeezed and moves to overcome the biasing force of the leaf spring when the printing head abuts against the printing portion of the platen. The squeezing force, which might otherwise be applied as a printing force to the printing platen through the hand lever, is damped to a preset level.

Abstract: A label arranging device for use in a label printing machine: a layered label strip having spaced feed perforations is moved forward by engagement of the perforations with feed pins formed on a feed wheel; the label strip is imprinted on a platen by the type faces of a printing head; the label arranging device includes an arranging member having an arranging surface on its bottom; the feed lips that were formed at the feed perforations by the feed pins are depressed and flattened by the arranging surface of the arranging member.

Abstract: In a printing device such as labelling appliance having a printing table, a printer movably mounted with respect to the table, an ink carrier which inks printing types carried by the printer, an inking pivot member which holds the ink carrier at the free end thereof and which is pivotable against the force of a return spring, the pivot member being adapted to be pivoted out of the path of movement of the printer when the printer moves toward the printing table, the improvement comprising the ink carrier being a resilient transfer roller which is freely rotatably mounted with respect to the inking pivot member and including a dense, readily wettable surface, an inking roller that stores ink, the inking roller being made of a finely porous material, an inking roller support having side walls where each wall has an open-ended bearing recess which opens toward the transfer roller for freely rotatably supporting the inking roller about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the transfer roller, the inking rol

Abstract: A price labelling apparatus comprises a lever brake centrally and pivotally mounted to a pivot pin rigid with a fixed unit and having a first end adapted to exert pressure on the label web, and a second end at a position opposing an adjustable projection element extending from a movable unit and biassing the second end of the lever brake such as to cause the first end to adhere to the label carrying web.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for printing, keeping in readiness and applying labels of a label strip, having a transport device for the stepwise advancement of the label strip, and associated therewith an inking device, a hand lever held in a braced position by a return spring and having a printer handle, which is pivotally supported and co-operates with the hand lever and with which the printer, the inking device and the transport device are coupled and which has an abutment face which is maintained contiguous to an abutment of the hand lever and the printer lever. The pivot axis of the printer lever is arranged between the pivot axis and the abutment of the hand lever in the vicinity of the pivot axis of the hand lever.

Abstract: A constant printing pressure mechanism for a portable label printing and applying machine; the machine has a printing head which is interlocked with a hand lever and it has a platen that carries a label strip disposed opposite to the printing head, the constant pressure mechanism comprises: a constant pressure means to turn the platen up against the type faces of the printing head with a constant pressure in synchronism with the downward movement of the printing head, and a means to release the platen slightly from the printing head immediately after the printing operation.

Abstract: An inking device for a label printing and applying machine, or the like: the inking device has a multi-link mechanism which comprises yoke arms operated by the squeezing of a hand lever, a supporting member for supporting inking rollers, a plurality of links operatively connecting the yoke arms and the supporting member, and a guiding means formed in the links for guiding the inking rollers; when the hand lever is squeezed, the multi-link mechanism moves the inking rollers into the body of the label printing and applying machine and past the type faces and stores the inking rollers therein.

Abstract: A label strip inserting device for use in a label printing machine; the inserting device comprises: a platen pivotally secured to the machine frame, a label guide member pivotally secured to the frame, an operating member interlocked with the platen and the guide member; rotation of the operating member moves the platen and guide member between widely spaced inoperative positions enabling insertion of a label strip and closely spaced operative positions; the operating member has a guide surface that is rotated to define part of the label strip pathway when the guide member is in its inoperative position; label guide pieces on the machine frame positioned near a label holder on the frame; the guide member aligns with the guide pieces to define an insertion pathway when the guide member is in the inoperative position.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a cartridge type supply device for use with a portable, one-hand-operable labeling machine of the type including a printing mechanism with printing types arranged for imprinting inscriptions on each of a series of labels traveling along a predetermined path through the machine toward a dispensing opening of the machine. The ink supply device comprises a cartridge holder pivotally supported at one end thereof within the labeling machine in a readily detachable manner and a replaceable inking roller cartridge supported detachably by the other end of said cartridge holder said cartridge including a rotatable inking roller. The cartridge holder is spring-biased to urge the inking roller onto surfaces of the printing types of the printing mechanism of the labeling machine. When the inking roller cartridge is used up, the cartridge holder can be taken out of the machine together with the used cartridge. A cartridge box for housing spare inking roller cartridges is provided.

Abstract: A printing device for use with a hand operated labeler: the hand labeler includes a pair of juxtaposed spaced end plates fixed to the body of the hand labeler, a support shaft member interposed fixedly between the end plates, and a plurality of bar code rings mounted rotatably on the support shaft member and juxtaposed to one another between the end plates; the bar code rings carry at least bar code types and index characters on their respective outer peripheries; a bar code ring selecting mechanism includes a selecting shaft which is made rotatable and axially movable for selectively turning one of the bar code rings; stain preventive means with a cover plate is provided which is mounted on one of the end plates in a manner to move radially of the bar code rings so that the cover plate may be moved during the printing operations to approach and cover the index characters thereby to prevent them from being stained with ink, and so that the cover plate may be moved during the type selecting operations to leave

Abstract: A constant pressure mechanism for the printing operation of a label printing machine; the machine has a hand lever, a printing lever, a printing head attached to the printing lever, a constant pressure spring secured between the hand lever and the printing lever and a platen to carry a label strip; when the hand lever is squeezed, the printing lever is turned by the force of the constant pressure spring to strike the printing head against the label strip on the platen, and immediately after the printing operation, the printing head is slightly released from the platen by means of releasing members.

Abstract: A printing device for use with a hand labeler including a pair of juxtaposed frames spaced from each other and fixed to the body of the hand labeler; between these frames, there are juxtaposed rotatably to one another a plurality of rings which carry bar code types on their printing surfaces; a bar code ring selecting mechanism having a selecting shaft which is made rotatable and axially movable for selectively turning one of the bar code rings to bring the desired one of the bar code types into its printing position; thrusting means interposed between one of the frames and the bar code rings and is made movable between a first position for thrusting the bar code rings to the other frame so as to effect frictional contact of the bar code rings and a second position for releasing the bar code rings in order to allow their independent rotation; actuating means which are coactive with the moving means for turning the thrusting means independently of the ring selecting mechanism to effect movement thereof.

Abstract: A code imprinting plate device for use along with the print heads of a portable labeling machine: the code plate device includes a casing that is removably retained in position on the frame of the printing device of the labeling machine, an imprinting code plate having type characters on it and adapted to be inserted into and removed from the casing, a sliding assembly which is slidable in the casing in response to the insertion and removal of the code plate; engagement and disengagement means are brought into and out of engagement with the sliding assembly so as to hold that assembly in position; the code plate is retained in position in the casing, whereby the label can be imprinted with the type characters on the code plate in addition to those on the other heads of the printing device.

Abstract: A label strip feed mechanism for a portable labeling machine: a rotatable feed wheel having label strip feed projections on its outer periphery; one longitudinal end of the feed wheel is a toothed ratchet wheel; the other end of the feed wheel has a sleeve defining a recess, and inner retaining recesses inside the sleeve; a pawl member is rotatable coaxially with the feed wheel and is removably engageable with the ratchet wheel; a non-return member is stationary relative to the labeling machine and is removably engageable with the inner retaining recesses of the sleeve to prevent reverse rotation of the feed wheel; a manually actuated lever rotates the pawl to intermittently rotate the feed wheel.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels, the apparatus having a frame with a handle, an actuator disposed at the handle and movable between an initial position and an actuated position, a platen, a print head cooperable with the platen, a label delaminator adjacent the platen, a label applicator adjacent the delaminator, a feed wheel for advancing the web, a stop on the actuator, a pivotally mounted print head lever, a spring for urging the print head lever against the stop, ratchet teeth coupled to the feed wheel, a first pawl carried by the actuator and cooperable with the ratchet tooth to drive the feed wheel, the print head lever having a tooth, a second pawl cooperable with the tooth after the actuator has moved from an initial position through an increment toward the actuated position, the second pawl being effective to prevent rotation of the lever as the actuator is moved through an additional increment toward the actuated position, and a projection

Abstract: Disclosed is a hand-held labeler or apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels. The apparatus has 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. There is also disclosed an arrangement by which the print head can be tripped or fires after the actuator is moved through a predetermined distance. The apparatus has gears which are coupled through a lost-motion connection.

Abstract: A label printer is described herein for printing on a tape information indicative of the cost of an item. The tape has a top print-receptive layer and a supporting layer and is disposed to be advanced between a printing head and a platen. The printing head is disposed near the tape egress end of the platen, which platen is pivotable at its tape ingress end about an axis perpendicular to the path of tape feed. Platen adjusting means are included at the tape egress end for adjusting the print head working distance. A delaminating bar and a tape advancement wheel are disposed in spaced apart sequence in the path of tape feed and downstream of the tape egress end of said platen so that, as the tape is advanced through the printer, the tape is pulled over the delaminating edge and separates the print-receptive layer from the supporting layer of tape.

Abstract: An ink roller device for use with a printing head of a hand labeler, or the like: an ink roller holder including a mounting assembly having a clip adapted to be removably mounted to the hand labeler; a pair of arms extend from the mounting assembly; each of the arms has a round notch at its free end; this notch has an entrance cut which is made narrower than the inside diameter of the notch; spring means bias the arms so that their free ends may be brought close to the type characters of the printing head; an ink roller assembly is removably supported on the ink roller holder; the ink roller assembly includes an ink roller body and a pair of split shafts which project from both ends of the roller body; each split shaft comprises a plurality of axially split elements which are made of a flexible material and which are sized and positioned so that they may be snap fitted snugly into the round notches of the arms through their cuts.

Abstract: There is disclosed a labeler having a frame and a subframe, with a print head movably mounted on the subframe for cooperation with a platen. A label hold-down member is disposed in overlying relation to the platen. The subframe carries a label roll composed of labels releasably secured by pressure sensitive adhesive to a web of supporting material, and the subframe defines a path for the web. The label roll is mounted on improved mounting structure. A manually operable actuator drives a gear which in turn effects movement of the print head. The gear carries a pivotal pawl which drives a ratchet wheel. The ratchet wheel and a toothed feed wheel mounted in the subframe are adjustable with respect to each other. A die roller cooperable with the toothed wheel is spring-urged against the toothed wheel. The frame includes a movable frame section mounted on a pivot to facilitate easy replacement of an ink roller. The pivot also mounts an applicator roll and a leaf spring of the inking mechanism.

Abstract: A portable label printing and applying machine: a platen to support the label to be printed is attached to the machine frame; a printing head is placed above the platen; a spring pushes the printing head down toward the platen with a constant pressure and for a constant time period, regardless of the strength and the duration of the squeezing of the operating hand lever of the machine; the printing head is restrained from descending until the spring has been adequately charged by squeezing of the hand lever, and then the printing head is released to descend. The printing head is separated from the platen immediately after its descent to and contact against the platen. In addition, there is a second spring acting on the printing head in opposition to the first mentioned spring to raise the printing head off the platen. In one embodiment, the first spring is apart from the printing head but acts on it.

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.

Abstract: Plural printing stations are located wherever convenient within a printing machine for pressure sensitive labels. Each label is individually printed at each station by detaching the label from its release web after each printing operation, advancing the label, and reattaching the label to a different portion of the web prior to the next printing operation.

Abstract: An improved force exerting means for a printing apparatus of the type having a printing station, a printing force resisting means, a front element and an image carrier wherein said improved force exerting means includes a curved force exerting surface, a means for guiding and supporting the curved surface in rolling movement relative to a printing station between first and second positions such that a printing force is exerted against successive portions of a printing surface, and means for moving the curved surface in rolling movement between said first and second positions.

Abstract: There is disclosed label printing and applying apparatus by which labels are successively printed and applied to merchandise. The apparatus feeds pressure sensitive labels mounted on a web of supporting material to a printing zone and to a delaminating zone. An applicator disposed downstream of the delaminating zone is used to apply the labels to merchandise.

Abstract: A Detent device for a key shaft of a printing mechanism, in particular for price marking apparatus, in which the printing types are settable by means of positioning wheels mounted juxtaposed rotatable about an axis, said positioning wheels having internal gearing into which pinion is capable of being engaged which is secured to the axially adjustable key shaft and in which the key shaft cooperates with a detent device which has detent recesses arranged juxtaposed in spacings corresponding to the widths of the wheels parallel to the key shaft according to the number of the positioning wheels as well as a detent resiliently engaging therein and in which on the key shaft a pointer extending over the circumference of the positioning wheels and being arranged with its point in a plane extending at a right angle to the key shaft and passing through the pinion is secured non-shiftable axially and is guided secured against rotation in the housing of the printing mechanism, characterized in that the pointer has a dete

Abstract: A hand-held label marking device prints selected bar code character information on labels by scribing selected code bars upon one area of a moving label juxtaposed with a printing medium and prints corresponding alpha-numeric character information upon another area of the label by impacting the label and printing medium against selected print elements, thereby establishing a standard symbol, such as that currently prescribed in the United States by the Universal Product Code. Further alpha-numeric information is printed upon a further area of the label by a reciprocating printing mechanism in the same device to provide consumer-readable price information. A compact arrangement of component parts enables the printing of a full range of bar code character information in accordance with a compact symbol standard such as the zero-suppression symbol standard of the Universal Product Code, together with the corresponding alpha-numeric character information.

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.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hand-held labeler or apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels. The apparatus has 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. There is also disclosed an arrangement by which the print head can be tripped or fires after the actuator is moved through a predetermined distance. The apparatus has gears which are coupled through a lost-motion connection.