Hand-held labeller

• US 5,013,387 A
• Filed: 04/10/1990
• Issued: 05/07/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paxar Americas Incorporated (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Inventors: Monteith, John R., Mistyurik, John D., Goodwin, Brent E., Wisecup, David R., Karn, Donald L., Seale, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WITYSHYN, MICHAEL G
• Application Number:
  US07/506,974
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 156/384, 156/577, 156/579, 156/DIG. 49, 156/DIG. 48, 156/DIG. 47, 101/288, 101/93.04, 400/120, 346/76 PH
• US Class Current: 156/384
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 11/0289 using electrical or electro-mechanical means B65C11/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2210/0018 permanent
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2210/0081 web brakes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1795 Implement carried web supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/18 Surface bonding means and/or assembly means with handle or handgrip

Abstract

There is disclosed a hand-held labeler having a housing with a handle, a thermal print head for printing on labels of a composite label web, a platen roll cooperable with the print head, a delaminator for delaminating printed labels, an applicator for applying printed labels, and a brake for arresting the platen roll to prevent loss of print registration during application of a label. The operative components of the labeler are readily accessible for servicing, and yet the labeler is simple in construction. The labeler has an improved print head mounting structure for facilitating precise alignment and pressure contact between the print head and the platen roll.

Claims

1. A hand-held labeler for printing and applying labels releasably secured to a carrier web of a composite label web, comprising:

a housing having a handle, means on the housing for supporting a supply roll of a composite label web, a thermal print head, means for providing a path for the composite label web from the supply roll to the print head, means for delaminating printed labels from the carrier web, means for applying printed labels, means including an electric motor for advancing the carrier web to effect delamination of a printed label and to advance the printed label into label applying relationship with the label applying means, wherein the housing includes a first housing section and a second housing section movable relative to the first housing section, means for connecting the first and second housing sections to each other for relative movement of the first and second housing sections between open and closed positions wherein the inside of the housing is accessible when the first and second housing sections are in the open position, a keyboard on the housing for entering data to be printed by the thermal print head, a microprocessor, circuitry electrically coupling the microprocessor, the keyboard, the thermal print head and the electric motor, the circuitry being in the housing and including first and second circuit portions, wherein the first circuit portion includes a first connector, wherein the second circuit portion includes a second connector, the first circuit portion being on the first housing section, the second circuit portion being on the second housing section, wherein the first and second connectors are connected when the first and second housing sections are in the closed position, and wherein the first and second connectors are disconnected when the first and second housing sections are in the open position.

2. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 1, wherein the handle is connected to the first housing section, wherein the first circuit portion is adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy, wherein the microprocessor is disposed on the second housing section and is part of the second circuit portion, and a battery is disposed on the second housing section for powering the microprocessor when the second housing section is in the open position.

3. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 1, wherein the handle is detachably connected to the first housing section, wherein the microprocessor includes a memory, the microprocessor being disposed on the second housing section, a battery is disposed in the handle for powering the print head, the electric motor and the microprocessor, and a battery is disposed on the second housing section for maintaining the memory of the microprocessor when the handle is detached and/or when the first housing section is in the open position.

4. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 1, including means for floatingly mounting one of the first and second connectors relative to the other to compensate for misalignment therebetween.

5. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 4, including means for camming the first and second connectors into connected relationship as the second housing section is moved into the closed position.

6. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 1, including means for pivotally mounting the second housing section relative to the first housing section, and means for floatingly mounting one of the first and second connectors relative to the other to compensate for misalignment therebetween.

7. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 6, including means for camming the first and second connectors into connected relationship, as the second housing section is pivoted into the closed position.

8. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 1, wherein one of the first and second connectors is resiliently mounted on its respective housing section.

9. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 1, including means for camming the first and second connectors into coupled relationship as the first housing section is moved into its closed position.

10. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 1, wherein one of the first and second connectors is resiliently mounted on its respective housing section, and means for camming the first and second connectors into coupled relationship as the second housing section is moved into the closed position.

11. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 1, including a printed circuit board, the first connector being mounted on the printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board being mounted in a two-point arrangement to enable the printed circuit board to pivot to accommodate for misalignment between the first and second connectors.

12. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 1, including a ribbon connector connected to the printed circuit board and adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy.

13. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 12, including a manually operable switch electrically connected to the ribbon connector.

14. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 1, wherein the connecting means for the first and second housing sections includes means for pivoting the second housing section on the first housing section to enable pivotal movement of the second housing section between the open and closed positions.

15. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 1, including a first printed circuit board, the first connector being disposed on the first printed circuit board, a second printed circuit board, and the second connector being disposed on the second printed circuit board.

16. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 1, wherein the connecting means for the first and second housing sections includes means for pivoting the second housing section on the first housing section to enable pivotal movement of the second housing section between the open and closed positions, a first printed circuit board, the first connector being disposed on the first printed circuit board, a second printed circuit board, and the second connector being disposed on the second printed circuit board.

17. A hand-held labeler for dispensing labels releasably secured to a carrier web of a composite label web, comprising:

a housing having a first housing section and a second housing section, means for connecting the second housing section to the first housing section for movement between open and closed positions, wherein the inside of the housing is accessible when the second housing section is in the open position, means for supporting a supply roll of a composite label web, a thermal print head disposed in the housing, means for providing a path for the composite label web from the supply roll to the print head, means for delaminating printed labels from the carrier web, means for advancing the carrier web to effect delamination of a printed label, the advancing means including an electric motor disposed in the first housing section, the second housing section including a microprocessor having a memory, circuitry including a first circuit portion on the first housing section and a second circuit portion on the second housing section, the circuitry electrically coupling the microprocessor, the thermal print head and the electric motor, wherein the first circuit portion includes a first connector, wherein the second circuit portion includes a second connector detachably connected to the first connector, means for accommodating for misalignment between the first and second connectors, the first and second connectors being detached when the second housing section has moved out of the closed position toward the open position, the first circuit portion being connectable to a source of electrical energy for powering the second circuit portion, the microprocessor, the thermal print head and the electric motor, and the second housing section having a battery for maintaining the memory of the microprocessor when the first and second connectors are detached.

18. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 17, including a printed circuit board, the first connector being mounted on the printed circuit board, and wherein the means for accommodating for misalignment includes a two-point arrangement to enable the printed circuit board to pivot.

19. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 17, wherein the means for accommodating for misalignment includes means for camming the first and second connectors into coupled relationship as the second housing section is moved toward the closed position.

20. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 17, wherein the means for accommodating for misalignment includes means for floatingly mounting one of the first and second connectors relative to the other.

21. A hand-held labeler for dispensing labels releasably secured to a carrier web of a composite label web, comprising:

a housing having a first housing section and a second housing section, means for connecting the second housing section to the first housing section for movement between open and closed positions, wherein the inside of the housing is accessible when the second housing section is in the open position, means for supporting a supply roll of a composite label web, a thermal print head disposed in the housing, means for providing a path for the composite label web from the supply roll to the print head, means for delaminating printed labels from the carrier web, means for advancing the carrier web to effect delamination of a printed label, the advancing means including an electric motor disposed in the first housing section, the second housing section including a microprocessor having a memory, circuitry including a first circuit portion on the first housing section and a second circuit portion on the second housing section, the circuitry electrically coupling the microprocessor, the thermal print head and the electric motor, wherein the first circuit portion includes a first connector, wherein the second circuit portion includes a second connector detachably connected to the first connector, means for floatingly mounting one of the first and second connectors, the first and second connectors being detached when the second housing section has moved out of the closed position toward the open position, the first circuit portion being connectable to a source of electrical energy for powering the second circuit portion, the microprocessor, the thermal ring head and the electric motor, and the second housing section having a battery for maintaining the memory of the microprocessor when the first and second connectors are detached.

22. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 21, including means for camming the first and second connectors into coupled relationship as the second housing section is moved toward the closed position.

23. A hand-held labeler for dispensing labels releasably secured to a carrier web of a composite label web, comprising:

a housing having a first housing section and a second housing section, means for connecting the second housing section to the first housing section for movement between open and closed positions, wherein the inside of the housing is accessible when the second housing section is in the open position, means for supporting a supply roll of a composite label web, a thermal print head disposed in the housing, means for providing a path for the composite label web from the supply roll to the print head, means for delaminating printed labels from the carrier web, means for advancing the carrier web to effect delamination of a printed label, the advancing means including an electric motor disposed in the first housing section, the second housing section including a microprocessor having a memory, circuitry including a first circuit portion on the first housing section and a second circuit portion on the second housing section, the first circuit portion including a first printed circuit board, the second circuit portion including a second printed circuit board, means for floatingly mounting one of the printed circuit boards, the circuitry electrically coupling the microprocessor, the thermal print head and the electric motor, wherein the first circuit portion includes a first connector, wherein the second circuit portion includes a second connector detachably connected to the first connector, the first and second connectors being detached when the second housing section has moved out of the closed position toward the open position, the first circuit portion being connectable to a source of electrical energy for powering the second circuit portion, the microprocessor, the thermal print head and the electric motor, and the second housing section having a battery for maintaining the memory of the microprocessor when the first and second connectors are detached.

24. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 23, wherein the means for floatingly mounting one of the printed circuit boards includes a two-point arrangement to enable the floatingly mounted printed circuit board to pivot.

25. A hand-held labeler as defined in claim 23, including means for camming the printed circuit boards to facilitate coupling of the first and second connectors as the second housing section is moved into the closed position.

26. A hand-held labeler for dispensing labels releasably secured to a carrier web of a composite label web, comprising:

a housing having a first housing section and a second housing section, means for connecting the second housing section to the first housing section for movement between open and closed positions, wherein the inside of the housing is accessible when the second housing section is in the open position, means for supporting a supply roll of a composite label web, a thermal print head disposed in the housing, means for providing a path for the composite label web from the supply roll to the print head, means for delaminating printed labels from the carrier web, means for advancing the carrier web to effect delamination of a printed label, the advancing means including an electric motor disposed in the first housing section, the second housing section including a microprocessor having a memory, circuitry including a first circuit portion on the first housing section and a second circuit portion on the second housing section, the circuitry electrically coupling the microprocessor, the thermal print head and the electric motor, wherein the first circuit portion includes a first connector, wherein the second circuit portion includes a second connector detachably connected to the first connector, the first and second connectors being detached when the second housing section has moved out of the closed position toward the open position, the first circuit portion being connectable to a source of electrical energy for powering the second circuit portion, the microprocessor, the thermal print head and the electric motor, and the second housing section having a battery for maintaining the memory of the microprocessor when the first and second connectors are detached.

27. A hand-held labeler for dispensing labels releasably secured to a carrier web of a composite label web, comprising:

a housing having a first housing section and a second housing section, means for connecting the second housing section to the first housing section for pivotal movement between open and closed positions, wherein the inside of the housing is accessible when the second housing section is pivoted to the open position, means for supporting a supply roll of a composite label web, a thermal print head disposed in the housing, means for providing a path for the composite label web from the supply roll to the print head, means for delaminating printed labels from the carrier web, means for advancing the carrier web to effect delamination of a printed label, the advancing means including an electric motor disposed in the first housing section, the second housing section including a microprocessor having a memory, circuitry including a first circuit portion on the first housing section and a second circuit portion on the second housing section, the circuitry electrically coupling the microprocessor, the thermal print head and the electric motor, wherein the first circuit portion includes a first connector, wherein the second circuit portion includes a second connector detachably connected to the first connector, the first and second connectors being detached when the second housing section has pivoted out of the closed position toward the open position, the first circuit portion being connectable to a source of electrical energy for powering the second circuit print, the microprocessor, the thermal print head and the electric motor, and the second housing section having a battery for maintaining the memory of the microprocessor when the first and second connectors are detached.

28. A hand-held labeler for dispensing labels releasably secured to a carrier web of a composite label web, comprising:

a housing having a first housing section and a second housing section, means for connecting the second housing section to the first housing section for movement between open and closed positions, wherein the inside of the housing is accessible when the second housing section in the open position, means for supporting a supply roll of a composite label web, a thermal print head disposed in the housing, means for providing a path for the composite label web from the supply roll to the print head, means for delaminating printed labels from the carrier web, means for advancing the carrier web to effect delamination of a printed label, the second housing section including a microprocessor having a memory, circuitry including a first circuit portion on the first housing section and a second circuit portion on the second housing section, the circuitry electrically coupling the microprocessor and the thermal print head, wherein the first circuit portion includes a first connector, wherein the second circuit portion includes a second connector detachably connected to the first connector, the first and second connectors being detached when the second housing section has moved out of the closed position toward the open position, the first circuit portion being connectable to a source of electrical energy for powering the second circuit portion, the microprocessor and the thermal print head, and the second housing section having a battery for maintaining the memory of the microprocessor when the first and second connectors are detached.