US 3,960,072 A · Automatic label-printing apparatus

Abstract

A new and improved automatic label printing apparatus for printing a label onto various types and shapes of packages and containers including a probe unit adapted to have mounted therewith a printing head. The probe unit is mounted for movement in three mutually perpendicular directions for locating a printable area on a container and for thereafter indexing the probe and printing head over the printable area for applying a label thereto. The probe unit is releaseably mounted to break away from its normal directional movement in order to prevent probe damage. In an alternate embodiment of this invention, a label printing apparatus is provided for printing a label onto a curved surface. And, in a further alternate embodiment, label printing apparatus is provided for printing a label at a rate coordinated with conveyor speed.

Claims17

Dependent claims

Apparatus for positioning a printing head for directly printing a label onto a package or the like, comprising:

a probe unit supporting a printing head for movement therewith;
probe mount means mounting said probe unit for movement along a first axis toward and away from a package;
a carriage assembly supporting said probe unit and said probe unit mount means;
second axis mount means mounting said carriage assembly for movement along a second axis orthogonal to said first axis;
third axis mount means mounting said carriage assembly for movement along a third axis orthogonal to said first and second axes;
said probe mount means including break-away means mounting said probe unit for release from movement along said first axis in response to said probe unit engaging an undesirable resistance;
and
control means for coordinating the movement of said probe unit along said first, second and third axes for positioning said probe unit and printing head to print a label directly onto said package.

5 more elements

Apparatus for positioning a printing head for printing a label on a top surface of a package or the like, comprising:

a portable label printing unit including:
a probe unit adapted to receive and support a printing head;
probe mount means mounting said probe unit for vertical movement toward and away from the top surface of a package;
a carriage assembly for supporting said probe unit and first power means mounting said carriage assembly for movement along a first horizontal axis in a horizontal plane;
second power means mounting said carriage assembly for movement along a second horizontal axis perpendicular to said first horizontal axis and in the same plane as said first horizontal axis;
height adjustment means mounting said portable label printing unit for vertical movement;
and
control means for coordinating the operation of said probe unit, first and second power means and said height adjustment means to isolate a printable area on said top package surface and for printing a label directly thereon.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automatic label-printing apparatus

Life of this patent

Automatic label-printing apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17