Printing head for portable labeling machine, or the like
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Sato Kenkyusho
InventorYo Sato
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved rotary printing head for being mounted on a portable labeling machine or the like comprising a plurality of side-by-side indexing wheels all having polygonal shape; the peripheral sides of the polygonal indexing wheels are either provided with types or they support stamp belts having types thereon; the indexing wheels are supported at their axes by a fixed positioning member which is provided with a respective, elastic engagement piece for each indexing wheel, and the engagement pieces each have index wheel engagement projections; particular desired types on the indexing wheels can be accurately positioned by rotating the indexing wheel and then bringing the engagement projections into engagement with indexing grooves formed on the inside surface of the indexing wheels.
Claims9
A printing head for selecting and imprinting selected indicia, comprising:
- at least one rotatable indexing wheel;
- said indexing wheel having an external periphery;
- said indexing wheel having a central axial opening passing therethrough;
- said central opening being defined by an internal annular wall of said indexing wheel;
- first detent means spaced at predetermined intervals around said internal wall;
- an internal positioning member;
- means supporting said positioning member against rotation along with rotation of said indexing wheel;
- said positioning member passing through said central opening;
- said indexing wheel being rotatable with respect to said positioning member;
- said positioning member further comprising two engagement pieces for said indexing wheel;
- said positioning member also comprising an engaging member in engagement with said internal wall and to which said engagement pieces are integrally attached;
- said engagement pieces extending in opposite directions from their said engaging member around said internal wall;
- said engagement pieces being held in fixed position on said positioning member engaging member and being held in engagement with said indexing wheel internal wall;
- each said engagement piece comprising a resilient arm bent into shape and positioned to engage the respective said internal wall along the length of said engagement piece arm;
- at least one second detent means attached to each said engagement piece and engageable with each said first detent means as said indexing wheel and its said first detent means are rotated past said second detent means;
- said second detent means being so spaced apart and placed on their respective said engagement piece that both said second detent means alway simultaneously engage a respective said first detent means;
- a plurality of printing types;
- means for holding said printing types to the exterior of said indexing wheel;
- said indexing wheel having a print position thereon at which a said type is in position to imprint;
- the length of each said type around said indexing wheel being related to the interval between two said first detent means such that rotation of said indexing wheel from engagement between one said first detent means and said second detent means to engagement between another said first detent means and said second detent means serves to remove one said type from said print position on said index wheel periphery and moves another said type to said print position on said indexing wheel;
- said positioning member supporting a bearing portion having a bearing surface that engages said internal wall at the same side of said indexing wheel as said print position for said types;
- said engaging member engaging said internal wall of said indexing wheel at a location thereon opposed to the side thereof of said print position;
- said positioning member, said engagement pieces and said engaging member for said engagement pieces all being an integral, single, solid piece inside said indexing wheel central opening;
- rotating means for causing rotation of said indexing wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.