US3912066A

US3912066A - Ink printing tool

Info

Publication number: US3912066A
Application number: US371555A
Authority: US
Inventors: Georg Fritz Bremer
Original assignee: Dymo Industries Inc
Current assignee: Dymo Industries Inc
Priority date: 1973-06-19
Filing date: 1973-06-19
Publication date: 1975-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-14
Also published as: BE816548A; DE2428745A1; FR2234194A1; FR2234194B1; DK328574A; NL7408211A; IT1015155B; AU6966674A; NO742170L; ES427309A1; JPS5036221A; GB1437921A; SE7408017L

Abstract

A hand-held printing tool for producing labels and the like having ink printed characters from an elongate strip of material which may be severed to desired lengths. The tool includes a print wheel carrying print elements on flexible fingers mounted in the tool such that a desired print element, when selected by rotation of the print wheel, is deflected out of the plane of adjacent print elements to enable inking of the selected print element and printing with the selected print element without interference from the adjacent print elements.

Description

United States Patent Bremer Oct. 14, 1975 [54] INK p n T001, 3,112,697 12/1963 Pittman et al. 101 292 I 3,331,315 7/1967 Hen 101/103 X [75] Inventor: Fmz Bremen Paulo 3,360,093 12/1967 McD zinald et al. 197/6.7 x Brazll 3,381,789 5/1968 Hawes 197 45 [73] Assignee: Dymo Industries, Inc., San 3414'1O2 12/1968 won/6,116 197/6'7 Francisco Calif 3,420,172 l/l969 Kaplan 10l/291 3,521,555 7/1970 Price et al 101/103 [22] Filed: June 19, 1973 3,587,810 6/197l 3,620,343 11/1971 pp 371,555 3,721,187 3/1973 3,743,072 7/1973 Akimoto 197/47 X [52] US. Cl 197/46; 101/359 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [51] Int. CLZ 341,] l/24 292 013 192 United Kingdom ]97/47 1 Field of Search 1 /9 93 430,851 10 1911 France 197/46 lOl/93 R, 20, 111,113, 94,100,101, -103, 359, 91, 93 C; 197/44-48, 51-55, 6.4-6.7, 6; primary Examiner E H Eickholt 156/510 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Samuelson & Jacob [56] References Cited [57] ABSTRACT UNITED STATES PATENTS A hand-held printing tool for producing labels and the 364,556 6/1887 wagncr 197/45 like having ink printed characters from an elongate 4451398 X 23 E strip of material which may be severed to desired 47694 H 2 lengths. The tool includes a print wheel carrying print 513,476 l/l894 Berrlen 197/47 elements on flexible fingers mounted in the tool such 720,573 2/1903 Elmblad..... 197/46 1.3737545 41/192] wiegman 10] /20 that a deslred prmt element, when selected by rotatlon 1,450527 4/1923 Damley 197/46 of the print wheel, 15 deflected out of the plane of ad- 1,927,118 9/1933 George 197/6 jacent print elements to enable inking of the selected 2,367,313 l/1945 Reynolds et a1. lOl/l03 X print element and printing with the selected print ele- 2,551,985 5/1951 Weller 101 MN ment without interference from the adjacent print ele- 3,059,571 10/1962 Worth 101 91 x menu, 3,083,807 4/1963 Travaglio.. lOl/29 X 3,101,049 8/1963 Huppert 101/292 15 Claims, 3 Dr ng Figures U.S. Patent Oct.14,1975 Sheet 1 of6 3,912,066

US Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 4 of6 3,912,066

is 60 81 40 F 562" Z00 9 l J. j. l D

US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet6of6 3,912,066

INK PRINTING TOOL The present invention relates generally to printing tools and pertains, more specifically, to a hand' tool for printing a series of consecutive characters upon an elongate strip of material for producing labels and the like.

A wide variety of techniques is currently in use for fabricating displays such as labels, signs, nameplates, identification tags, cards, badges, and like items having a series of consecutive characters made visible against a constrasting background. One technique which has become quite popular is that of embossing indicia on thin plastic strips formed of sheeted thermoplastic synthetic resins which are capable of being coldformed to establish a contrast color relief enfigurement therein. The ensuing development of simple, low cost tools and machines which can be used to practice that technique has not only led to widespread use of such displays, but has generated an increased demand for similarly simple and low cost tools and machines which can be used for fabricating displays utilizing alternate techniques which produce similarly utilitarian, but aesthetically different results. One such alternate technique is that of printing an elongate strip of material with a series of consecutive characters utilizing ink as the printing medium. While ink printing is quite common in the fabrication of such displays, the printing of consecutive selected characters upon an elongate strip of material requires a combination of ease of selection of each character, accuracy of registration of consecutive characters, and print quality in all characters heretofore unavailable in a simple, easy-to-use hand-held tool.

. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide Another object of the invention is to provide such a hand tool which is easy to use and which attains accurate registration of consecutive printed characters with good print quality.

Still another object of the invention is to'provide such a tool in which good print quality is maintained over long periods of use without requiring replenishment of the ink supply.

A,further object of the invention is to provide such a hand tool which enables rapid selection of each character to be printed and which provides a wide choice of printing characters with minimal complexity.

A still further object of the invention is to' provide a hand tool as described above which enables the printed strip to be severed into discrete displays, or labels, or to remain in a strip of individual labels, joined by a common backing.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a hand tool of the type described which utilizes a strip supply contained in a magazine and wherein the structural relationship between the magazine and the feed means of the tool assures advancement of the strip from the supply in accurate increments of advancement for accurate registration of the'printed characters.

The above objects, as well as still further objects and advantages, are attained by the invention which may be described briefly as a printing tool for printing selected characters upon an elongate strip of material, the tool tool;

movement along a first path of travel passing through the printing station, carrier means for guiding the strip material along a second path of travel passing through the-printing station and juxtaposed with the first path of travel at the printing station, selector means for selectively locating any one of the print means at the printing station, deflector means on the frame for displacing the selected printing means out of the. first path of travel toward the second path of travel at the printing station, inking means on the frame forapplying ink to the selected printing means,- and operator means on the frame for engaging the strip with the selected printing means at the printing station to print the selected character upon the strip.

The invention will be more fully understood, while still further objects and advantages thereof will become apparent, in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially cut away, of an'ink printing tool constructed in accordance with the invention; 7

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, partially cut away, of the FIG. 3 is a plan view of a label tape printed in the tool of FIG. 1; g

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of thetool with certain component parts removed to reveal other working components;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectionakview taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4, but with the removed components replaced;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tool with component parts removed to reveal working componentsj FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views illustrating component parts of the tool in several operating positions during a printing operation; I V

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5, but with component parts in another operating position; I v 7 FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a component part'of the tool;

FIG. 12 isan enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 12- l2 of FIG. 5; and FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragment of a portion of FIG.

Referring now to the drawing, and especially to FIGS, 1 through 3 thereof, an ink printing tool constructed in accordance with the invention is illustrated inthe form of ahand-held tool 10 which prints selected comprising a frame, a printing station on the'fram'e, a

plurality of printing means mounted on the frame for characters 12 upon an elongate strip of material, illustrated in the form of a tape 14,-having an obverse surface 15 which may be printed upon with ink to produce labels 16 or the like with ink printed characters 12 placed upon a background 18 of contrasting color. Tool 10 includes a frame 20 comprised of a main frame 22 and a sub-frame 24, the main frame.22 having a downwardly extending portion 26 which provides a handle for being gripped by the hand of an operator. Each character 12 is printed by actuating an operator means which includes an actuator lever 30 mounted upon the frame 20 for pivotal movement about a lateral axis: 32 between a rest position, illustrated in full lines at 30R FIG. 1, a partially depressed, or intermediate position illustrated in phantom at 30? in FIG. 1, and a full y depres sed position, illustrated in phantom at 30D in FIG. I, the actuator lever 30 being biased toward the rest position 30R by a main return spring 33.

Each character is printed upon the tape 14 at a printing station 34 wherein there is located one of a plurality of printing means shown in the form of print elements 36 mounted on the frame 20 for movement along a path of travel 38 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is circular and which passes through the printing station 34. Selector means are provided for selectively locating any one of the print elements 36 at the printing station 34 and include a selector wheel 40 mounted for rotation upon the frame 20 and carrying a pointer 42 which can be aligned with any one of a plurality of indicia 44 corresponding to characters 12 selected for printing at the printing station 34, all as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The tape 14 is carried in a supply roll 46 held in a magazine 48 and advanced along a path of travel 50 passing through the printing station 34 to be juxtaposed with each selected print element 36 at the printing station 34.

Turning now to FIGS. 4 through 10, as well as to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the print elements 36 are carried by a print wheel 52 which includes a plurality of radially extending resiliently flexible fingers 54, each finger 54 carrying a print element 36. The print wheel 52, or at least each finger 54, is preferably constructed of a resiliently flexible material, preferably metal, and each print element 36 is preferably fabricated of an elastomer, such as rubber, molded onto a finger S4 of the print wheel. Other elastomers, such as a polyurethane material compatible with the ink employed for printing with tool 10, are feasible. The print wheel 52 is affixed at 56 to the selector wheel 40 for rotation therewith relative to sub-frame 24 which forms a part of a selector assembly 58 carried by the main frame 22. All of the fingers 54 of the print wheel 52 normally lie within the same plane P; however, upon rotation of the selector wheel 40, and concomitant rotation of the print wheel 52, the print element 36A which is brought into the printing station 34 engages deflector means shown in the form of a deflector roller 60 journaled within the sub-frame 24 at the printing station. Such engagement of the print element 36A with the deflector roller 60 deflects the print element 36A downwardly, as seen in FIGS. and 7 through 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, the indicia 44 are carried by the sub-frame 24 and the selector wheel 40 is transparent so that upon rotation of the selector wheel the pointer 42 may be aligned with a selected indicia 44 to locate the corresponding print element 36 at the printing station 34 wherein that print element will de displaced downwardly out of the plane P of the adjacent print elements 363 and 36C. A detent projection 62 is mounted in the sub-frame 24 and is resiliently biased by a spring 64 into a detent recess 66 corresponding to the selected print element 36A to properly align and retain the selected print element at the printing station. Selector wheel 40 is grooved along the outer periphery 68 thereof to facilitate manual gripping and rotation of the selector wheel.

Upon movement of the actuator lever 30 from the rest position 30R to the intermediate position 30F, a drive pin 70, carried by the actuator lever 30 and engaged with an L-shaped slot 72 within a carriage 74 journaled upon the frame 20 for rotation about an altitudinal axis 76, swings the carriage 74 from a first position 74F, illustrated in full lines in FIG. 4, to a second position 748, illustrated in phantom in FIG. 4. During movement of the carriage 74 from the first position to the second position thereof, the selected print element 36A is inked by inking means which include an ink res- 5 ervoir, illustrated in the form of an ink supply member 80 of ink-permeated material supported in a bracket 82 affixed to the frame 20, and an inking mechanism 81 including at least one roller, and preferably a pair of

ink rollers

83 and 84 carried by the carriage 74 and located such that

ink rollers

83 and 84 make contact with one another, and roller 83 contacts ink supply member 80 when the carriage 74 is in the first position thereof. Ink supply member 80 has a generally cylindrical configuration and is affixed to one end of a shaft 86 journaled for rotation in the bracket 82. A gear 88 is mounted upon the other end of the shaft 86 and is engaged with a rack 90 carried by the selector wheel 40 so that upon rotation of the selector wheel the shaft 86 and the ink supply member 80 will be rotated, thereby rotating the

ink rollers

83 and 84 and inking the outer surfaces thereof. Upon movement of the carriage 74 from the first position to the Second position thereof the

ink rollers

83 and 84 will follow a path of travel 92 which extends through the printing station 34 and is juxtaposed with the path of travel 38 of the print elements 36 so that the inked surfaces of the

ink rollers

83 and 84 will contact selected print element 36A, which is now displaced downwardly from the plane P of adjacent print elements 368 and 36C, as illustrated in FIG. 8, to apply ink to the print-carrying face 94 thereof without interference from the adjacent print elements.

Upon further movement of the actuator lever 30 from the intermediate position 30F toward the fully depressed position 30D, a cam surface 96 on the actuator lever will engage a follower 98 which depends from a tape carrier assembly 100 mounted upon the frame 20 for pivotal movement about a lateral axis 101 defined by laterally extending stub-shafts 102 journaled within the frame 20 at 104. The tape carrier assembly 100 includes a receptacle 106 located more-or-less centrally within the tool for receiving the tape magazine 48 and provides a tape chute 108 (see FIG. 5) which defines the longitudinally extending path of travel 50 for the tape 14 from the magazine 48 to the printing station 34. The path of travel 50 is juxtaposed with and passes beneath the selected print element 36A at the printing station 34. Upon continued movement of the actuator lever 30 toward the fully depressed position 30D, the cam surface 96 will drive the follower 98 upwardly to pivot the tape carrier assembly 100 about the lateral axis 101 so that a platen 109, carried by the tape carrier assembly 100, is moved upwardly, in an altitudinal direction, together with the tape 14 to press the tape against the inked face 94 of the selected print element 36A, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, and print a character upon the tape. During such continued movement of the actuator lever 30 from the intermediate to the fully depressed position the drive pin 70 traverses the longer leg 110 of the L-shaped slot 72.so that the carriage 74 remains stationary, but is retained at the secbe engaged with the tape to print a character upon the tape.

When the actuator lever 30 is released, the main return spring 33 will urge the lever 30 from the fully depressed position 30D, toward the intermediate position 30P thereof, and the tape carrier assembly 100 will be lowered by a carrier return spring 112 which extends between the frame at 114 and the carrier assembly 100 at 116 and which biases the carrier assembly 100 in a downward direction. Continued movement of the actuator lever from the intermediate position 30F thereof toward the rest position 30R will return the carriage 74 from the second position 745 to the first position 74F thereof by virtue of the engagement of the drive pin with the short leg 118 of the L-shaped slot 72. At the same time, the tape 14 will be indexed through a prescribed increment of advancement by feed means 120 carried by the carrier assembly 100 and including a feed roll 122 journaled for rotation within a slot 124 in the tape carrier assembly 100 and urged upwardly by a cantilever spring 126 to form a nip 128 between the peripheral surface 130 of the feed roll 122 and a pressure roll 132 mounted for rotation within the tape magazine 48, as seen in FIGS. 5 and 13.

The tape magazine 48 has a chamber 134 for the tape supply roll 46 and an internal passage 136 for the tape 14, the passage 136 including an inlet 138 adjacent the chamber 134 and an outlet 140 juxtaposed with the tape chute 108 of the tape carrier assembly 100. An opening 142 in the magazine 48 juxtaposed with the pressure roll 132 enables the feed roll 122 to enter the passage 136 and grip the tape 14 at the nip 128 for feeding the tape through the desired increment of advancement.

The feed roll 122 is indexed through an angular increment corresponding to the desired increment of advancement of the tape 14 by a pawl and ratchet mechanism which includes a pawl 144 having a pawl tooth 146 engaged between ratchet teeth 148 of a ratchet wheel 150 which is coupled for rotation with the feed roll 122. When the actuator lever 30 is moved from the rest position 30R to the intermediate position 30F and the carriage 74 is moved from the first position 74F to the second position 745, a crank 152 (see FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 13) is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, and the pawl 144, which is engaged at one end 154 thereof by the crank 152 and which is supported at the other end 156 by a ledge 158 on the carrier assembly 100 engaged within a slide 160 in the pawl 144, is retracted; that is, the pawl 144 is moved toward the left, as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 13. The pawl 144 itself is fabricated of a resiliently flexible material so that such retraction of the pawl enables the pawl tooth 146 to pass over the ratchet tooth 148 which lies immediately behind the pawl tooth 146. At the same time, clockwise rotation of the feed roll 122 is precluded by the abutment of another ratchet tooth 162 against a stop 164 located on the carrier assembly 100. Upon return of the actuator lever 30 from the intermediate position 30F to the rest position 30R and return of the carriage 74 from the second position 745 to the first position 74F, the crank 152 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction thereby driving the pawl 144 forward; that is, toward the right as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 13, so that the pawl tooth 146 will engage ratchet tooth 148 and will index the feed roll 122 through the desired increment. The stop 164 is carried by a flexible arm 166 which will be deflected, by virtue of the contour of the adjacent ratchet tooth 163, to permit such indexing of the ratchet wheel 150. When the actuator lever 30 reaches the rest position 30R, a stop shoulder 170 on the actuator lever will abut the frame 20 at 172 to retain the actuator lever at the rest position 30R.

It has been found that with some print element materials more uniform printing can be obtained by prewetting all of the print elements 36 with ink prior to the start of printing operations. Such pre-wetting is attained by locating the ink supply member 80 so that the cylindrical surface 174 thereof intercepts the path of travel 38 of the print elements 36 whereby upon rotation of the selector wheel 40, each of the print elements 36 is sequentially brought into contact with the surface 174 of the ink supply member 80 and is wetted with ink. Two full revolutions of the selector wheel 40 prior to the printing of a label has been found sufficient to accomplish such pre-wetting of the printing faces 94 of the print elements 36.

The ink supply member 80 is preferably constructed of a porous material which retains ink. Such materials are commercially available, one such material being known as Microwell inking material. The amount of ink picked up by the

ink rollers

83 and 84 and transferred to the selected print element 36A just prior to the printing of each character is governed by the extent of the content between ink roller 83 and the ink supply member 80 when the carriage 74 is at the first position 74F. In order to compensate for the eventual depletion of the ink from the ink supply member 80, the amount of contact between the ink roller 83 and the ink supply member 80 may be increased selectively from time to time. Thus, the carriage 74 is supplied with a stop shoulder 176 which engages an abutment 178 located on a dial 180 carried by the bracket 82. The first position 74F of the carriage 74 is determined by the location of the carriage when the stop shoulder 176 contacts the abutment 178 to fix the position of the carriage 74. As best seen in FIG. 11, the dial 180 is provided with two

alternate abutments

182 and 184, in addition to abutment 178, any one of which selectively may be located in the path of the stop shoulder 176 of the carriage. Since the abutments extend to different lateral positions relative to one another, the location of the first position 74F of the carriage 74 may be varied selectively in the lateral direction to vary the pressure between the ink roller 83 and the ink supply member 80. In this manner, the amount of ink transferred from the ink supply member 80 to the ink roller 83 may be varied selectively to compensate for the depletion of ink from the ink supply member, thus lending uniformity to the printed character 12.

Once all of the characters 12 of a desired label have been printed upon tape '14, the tape may be severed to deliver a completed label 16. Tape 14 is of the-type having a pressure-sensitive adhesive coated upon the reverse surface 186 thereof and a release backing 188 overlying the adhesive. Cut-off means are provided in the form of a cut-off mechanism 190 carried by the carriage 74 and including a pair of cut-off

blades

192 and 194 which are located immediately above the platen 109 and above the path of travel 50 of the tape 14 at a cut-off station which coincides with the printing station 34 when the carriage 74 is in the first position 74F thereof. The

blades

192 and 194 each include a cutting edge 195 having a lateral width slightly greater than the lateral width of tape 14. When it is desired to sever a label 16 from the tape 14, the actuator lever 30 is retained at the rest position 30R and the carriage 74 is retained at the first position 74F. A cut-off lever 196, which is mounted upon the frame 20 for pivotal movement about a lateral axis 198 and which is normally biased into the position illustrated in FIG. by a coil spring 200, is pushed downwardly as indicated by the arrow 202 in FIG. 5. Such'movement of the cut-off lever 196 will raise a lobe 204 on on the lever 196 and the lobe 204 will engage the tape carrier assembly 100 at 206 thereby raising the carrier assembly and the platen 109 carried by the carrier assembly to urge the tape 14 against the

blades

192 and 194.

The

blades

192 and 194 are held within

slots

208 and 210 in the carriage 74 which preclude the longitudinal and lateral movement of the blades, but enable the blades to slide upwardly anddownwardly in the altitudinal direction. Such altitudinal sliding movement is confined by slide means including a pin 212 which passes through apertures 214 and 216 in

blades

192 and 194, respectively. Thus; the relative altitudinal position of the cutting edges 1950f the blades is determined by the diameterof the particular portion of the pin 212 which passes through the apertures 214 and 216 to provide stops for

blades

192 and 194, since both apertures are of the same diameter. A slide button 218 is coupled with the pin 212 and is mounted in the carriage 74 for sliding movement in the longitudinal direction such that sliding movement of the button 218 will slide the pin 212 forward and backward. When the slide button 218 and the pin 212 are located at the rear wardmost position, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the smaller diameter segment 220 of the pin is aligned with the forward blade 192 and blade 192 will move upwardly relative to the rear blade 194 as the tape 14 is moved upwardly against the blades so that the cutting edge of both blades will be spaced from the platen 109 a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the release backing 188, which distance is sufficient to merely cut through the printed label, but not through the release backing so that consecutive labels 16, each having a short tab 221, will be carried upon a continuous release backing 188, as illustrated at 222 in FIG. 3, even though the consecutive labels 16 are severed from one another.

When it is desired to sever both the printed label 16 and the release backing 188 of tape 14 so as to sever a complete label from the remaining tape, the slide button 218 may be moved forward, thereby moving the pin 212 forward and locating the larger diameter segment 224 of the pin within both apertures 214 and 216 so that upon movement of the platen 109 upwardly toward the blades, the cutting edge of forward blade 192 will be located closer to the platen 109 then the cutting edge of rear blade 194, by virtue of the angle A of the platen 109, so that the forward blade will completely sever the tape 14 with the release backing 188 while the rear blade 194 will merely sever the printed label but not the release backing 188 to establish the short tab 221 for facilitating later removal of backing strip 188 from the remainder of the tape of the next subsequent label. In this manner, the operator may select either one of two modes of operation, namely, a first mode where a string 222 of labels 16 is produced, which labels are joined together by a common release backing 188, or a second mode of operation where each individual label 16, together with its release backing 188, is totally severed from the remainder of the tape 14.

. As best seen in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 12, the tape magazine 48 is releasably retained within the receptacle 106 by detent means including detent projections 230 carried upon resiliently flexible latches 232 extending downwardly into the receptacle 106. The detent pro- 10 jections 230 are received within detent recesses 234 to capture and retain the magazine 48 in the receptacle 106. When it is desired to remove the magazine from the receptacle, the latches 232 are flexed outwardly, as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 12, by pushing forward upon a slide member 236 mounted upon the main frame 22 for forward and backward movement, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5, to engage wedge-shaped portions 238, of the slide member 236 with corresponding portions 240 of the latches 232. Upon release of the detent projections 230 from the detent recesses 234, the magazine 48 will be moved upwardly slightly by the upward bias of the cantilever spring 126 against feed roll 122 which is urged against the pressure roll 132 of the magazine 48. The magazine may then be removed from the receptacle 106 and replaced as desired.

In order to enable the interchange of various type fonts, as well as to gain access to the inking mechanism 81 and the cut-off mechanism 190 to enable the operator to make the various selections described above, the sub-frame 24 selectively may be removed from the main frame 22. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, the sub-frame is provided with a plurality of depending locking tongues 250 which extend adjacent slots 252 in a rim 254 integral with the main frame 22 when the subframe 24 is assembled with the main frame. A locking ring 256 is mounted for rotation in the main frame 22 below the rim 254 and the slots 252 and carries a plurality of locking blocks 258 which engage complementary locking ledges 260 on the depending tongues 250 to secure the sub-frame 24 upon the main frame 22. In order to release the sub-frame 24 from the main frame 22, the slide member 236 may be grasped at a lower lip 262 thereof (see FIG. 5) and drawn rearward (to the right as viewed in FIG. 5). Such rearward movement of the slide member 236 will draw a rib 264 (see FIG. 4), which is integral with the slide member, through a complementary groove 266 in locking ring 256 such that the rib 264 will rotate the ring 256 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 6. Such rotation of the locking ring 256 will release locking blocks 256 carried by the ring from the ledges 260 in the depending locking tongues 250 of the sub-frame 24 so that the sub-frame may be lifted from the main frame 22, with the ledges 260 passing upwardly through slots 252.

Once the sub-frame 24 is removed from the main frame 22, an alternate sub-frame (not shown), carrying a print wheel with print elements providing an alternate set of characters, or an alternate type font, can be assembled with the main frame 22. In addition, as seen in FIG. 6, access to the inking mechanism 81 for adjustment of the dial and access to the cut-off mechanism for positioning of the button 218 is attained by such removal of the sub-frame 24.

It will be seen that tool 10 is a compact device which is capable of printing selected characters in ink upon a label tape accurately and with ease. The choice and ac- 9 curate registration of each character is accomplished without difficulty, and the high quality of the printed character will be retained for long periods of use.'

It is to be understood that the above described embodiment of the invention is provided'by way of example only. Various details of-design and construction may be modified without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. I

The embodiments 'of the invention in whichan exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

L'A printing tool'for printing selected characters upon an elongate strip of material, said tool-comprising:

a frame; i

a printing station on the frame;

a plurality of printing means mounted on the frame for movement along a first path'of travel passing through the printing station;

carrier means for guiding said strip of material along a second path of travel passing through said printing station and juxtaposed with the firstpath of travel at the printing station; ,r

selector means for selectivelylocating any one of the printing means at the printing station;

deflector means on the frame for displacing said one selected printing means out of the first path of travel toward the second path of travel at the printing station;

inking means on the frame for applying ink to said one selected printing means at the printing station; and

operator means on the frame for engaging the strip with the selected printing means at the printing station for printing the selected character upon the strip, the operator means including means for moving the strip out of the second path of travel toward the first path of travel and against the selected printing means at the printing station;

the inking means including ink applying means mounted on the frame for movement in response to the operator means along a third path of travel which intersects the displaced printing means at the printing station and extends beyond the printing station such that movement of the ink applying means along the third path of travel will bring the ink applying means into contact with the displaced printing means;

, said operator means further including an actuator lever mounted upon the frame for movement between a first position, a depressed position, and in intermediate position between a rest position and the depressed position;

means coupling the actuator lever with the ink applying means such that upon movement of the actuaof travel extendslongitudinally along the frame the.

first and third paths of'travel extend laterally relative to the second path-of travel at the printing station and the strip is'moved altitudinally, in response to movement of the- 'actuator'lever" from the intermediate position toward the depressed position; against the selected printing means at the printing station. n i The invention" of claim 2 wherein; i r the selector means include a print wheel mounted for rotation upon the frame and having a plurality of resiliently flexible fingers extending radially along 'said wheel, each of said fingers normally lying in a plane; the plurality of y print means include print elements eachlo'cated upon one of the said fingers such that said first path of travel isa circular path lying within said plane; n i

the carrier means" include a carrier assembly mounted upon the frame for pivotal movement toward and away from said plane in response to movement of the actuator lever between the intermediate and depressed positions, said carrier assembly including a platen juxtaposed with the printing station; i

the inking means include a carriage "mounted for swinging movement essentially parallel to said plane between the print wheel and platen, and an inking mechanism carried by the carriage to sweep through the printing station in response to movement of the actuator lever between the rest position and the intermediate position; and

the deflector means include a deflector member mounted upon the frame and juxtaposed with said plane for displacing the selected print element out of said plane toward the platen in response to movement of the selected print element into the printing station.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said carriage is movable between a first location and a second location in response to movement of the actuator lever between the rest position and the intermediate position and said inking means include:

an ink reservoir adjacent said first location in position to be engaged by the inking mechanism when the carriage is in said first location; and

means for selectively changing the first location to compensate for depletion of ink from the ink reservoir.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the inking mechanism comprises at least one ink roller.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the inking mechanism comprises a pair of ink rollers engaged with one another.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the ink reservoir is a member of ink-permeated material.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the ink reservoir is a generally cylindrical member mounted for rotation in response to rotation of the print wheel.

9. The invention of claim 7 wherein the ink reservoir is juxtaposed with said first path of travel to intercept each print element as the print elements traverse said first path of travel.

10. The invention of claim 3 including cut-off means having a cut-off mechanism carried upon the carriage, said cut-off mechanism being juxtaposed with the platen when the actuator lever is in the rest position and being spaced laterally away from the platen when the actuator lever is moved from the intermediate position toward the depressed position; and

means for selectively moving the platen toward the cut-off mechanism, when the cut-off mechanism is juxtaposed with the platen, for cutting a desired length of said strip.

11. The invention of claim wherein the strip includes a label tape and a release backing affixed thereto, said cut-off means including first and second cut-off blades spaced longitudinally from one another and extending altitudinally toward the carrier assembly, said blades each including a cutting edge confronting the platen; and

means for selecting the altitudinal positions of the cutting edges relative to one another such that the cutting edges, during cutting, are located either equidistant from the platen or one of the cutting edges is located closer to the platen than the other of the cutting edges by an amount essentially equal to the thickness of the release backing.

12. The invention of claim 3 in which the strip is supplied from a supply roll contained within a magazine, and the carrier assembly includes:

a receptacle for receiving at least a portion of the magazine;

a chute for guiding said strip from the magazine to the printing station;

feed means for advancing the strip along the chute,

said feed means including a feed roll journaled for rotation in the carrier assembly;

a pressure member in said magazine;

an opening in the magazine adjacent the pressure member;

means for affixing the magazine within the receptacle with the opening adjacent the feed roll so that the pressure member will establish a nip between the feed roll and the pressure member; and

means for resiliently biasing the feed roll toward the pressure member such that the strip will be gripped in said nip for advancement in response to indexing of the feed roll.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said pressure member is a pressure roll.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein the magazine includes a passage communicating with the pressure roll and leading from the supply roll, between the pressure roll and said opening, and thence toward said chute.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein said means for affixing the magazine in the receptacle comprises selectively releasable detent means.

Claims

1. A printing tool for printing selected characters upon an elongate strip of material, said tool comprising: a frame; a printing station on the frame; a plurality of printing means mounted on the frame for movement along a first path of travel passing through the printing station; carrier means for guiding said strip of material along a second path of travel passing through said printing station and juxtaposed with the first path of travel at the printing station; selector means for selectively locating any one of the printing means at the printing station; deflector means on the frame for displacing said one selected printing means out of the first path of travel toward the second path of travel at the printing station; inking means on the frame for applying ink to said one selected printing means at the printing station; and operator means on the frame for engaging the strip with the selected printing means at the printing station for printing the selected character upon the strip, the operator means including means for moving the strip out of the second path of travel toward the first path of travel and against the selected printing means at the printing station; the inking means including ink applying means mounted on the frame for movement in response to the operator means along a third path of travel which intersects the displaced printing means at the printing station and extends beyond the printing station such that movement of the ink applying means along the third path of travel will bring the ink applying means into contact with the displaced printing means; said operator means further including an actuator lever mounted upon the frame for movement between a first position, a depressed position, and in intermediate position between a rest position and the depressed position; means coupling the actuator lever with the ink applying means such that upon movement of the actuator lever from the first position toward the intermediate position the ink applying means will traverse the third path of travel to ink the selected printing means at the printing station and will pass beyond the printing station; and means coupling the actuator lever with the carrier means such that upon movement of the actuator lever beyond the intermediate position toward the depressed position, the strip will be moved toward the second path of travel and against the selected printing means at the printing station.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the second path of travel extends longitudinally along the frame, the first and third paths of travel extend laterally relative to the second path of travel at the printing station and the strip is moved altitudinally, in response to movement of the actuator lever from the intermediate position toward the depressed position, against the selected printing means at the printing station.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein: the selector means include a print wheel mounted for rotation upon the frame and having a plurality of resiliently flexible fingers extending radially along said wheel, each of said fingers normally lying in a plane; the plurality of print means include print elements each located upon one of the said fingers such that said first path of travel is a circular path lying within said plane; the carrier means include a carrier assembly mounted upon the frame for pivotal movement toward and away from said plane in response to movement of the actuator lever between the intermediate and depressed positions, said carrier assembly including a platen juxtaposed with the printing station; the inking means include a carriage mounted for swinging movement essentially parallel to said plane between the print wheel and platen, and an inking mechanism carried by the carriage to sweep through the printing station in response to movement of the actuator lever between the rest position and the intermediate position; and the deflector means include a deflector member mounted upon the frame and juxtaposed with said plane for displacing the selected print element out of said plane toward the platen in response to movement of the selected print element into the printing station.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said carriage is movable between a first location and a second location in response to movement of the actuator lever between the rest position and the intermediate position and said inking means include: an ink reservoir adjacent said first location in position to be engaged by the inking mechanism when the carriage is in said first location; and means for selectively changing the first location to compensate for depletion of ink from the ink reservoir.

10. The invention of claim 3 including cut-off means having a cut-off mechanism carried upon the carriage, said cut-off mechanism being juxtaposed with the platen when the actuator lever is in the rest position and being spaced laterAlly away from the platen when the actuator lever is moved from the intermediate position toward the depressed position; and means for selectively moving the platen toward the cut-off mechanism, when the cut-off mechanism is juxtaposed with the platen, for cutting a desired length of said strip.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein the strip includes a label tape and a release backing affixed thereto, said cut-off means including first and second cut-off blades spaced longitudinally from one another and extending altitudinally toward the carrier assembly, said blades each including a cutting edge confronting the platen; and means for selecting the altitudinal positions of the cutting edges relative to one another such that the cutting edges, during cutting, are located either equidistant from the platen or one of the cutting edges is located closer to the platen than the other of the cutting edges by an amount essentially equal to the thickness of the release backing.

12. The invention of claim 3 in which the strip is supplied from a supply roll contained within a magazine, and the carrier assembly includes: a receptacle for receiving at least a portion of the magazine; a chute for guiding said strip from the magazine to the printing station; feed means for advancing the strip along the chute, said feed means including a feed roll journaled for rotation in the carrier assembly; a pressure member in said magazine; an opening in the magazine adjacent the pressure member; means for affixing the magazine within the receptacle with the opening adjacent the feed roll so that the pressure member will establish a nip between the feed roll and the pressure member; and means for resiliently biasing the feed roll toward the pressure member such that the strip will be gripped in said nip for advancement in response to indexing of the feed roll.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said pressure member is a pressure roll.