US 4,113,544 A · Portable label printing and applying machine · patentgrep

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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. In another embodiment, the printing head is comprised of a number of relatively movable parts; the first spring for moving the head to the platen is in the printing head and is charged by relative motion of the parts of the printing head.

Claims52

Dependent claims

A portable label printing and applying machine, comprising:

a machine frame;
a platen supported by said machine frame;
label moving means for moving a label onto said platen to be imprinted;
an operating lever supported by and movable with respect to said machine frame between a first and a second position;
a printing head supported by and movable with respect to said machine frame between a third and a fourth position;
said printing head including printing types;
at said fourth position of said printing head, said printing types being in position to engage and engaging a label on said platen and imprinting the same;
biasing means operatively connected between said operating lever and said printing head for biasing said printing head away from said third position toward said fourth position as said operating lever is operated toward said second position;
printing head restraining means connected with said printing head for restraining movement thereof toward said fourth position as said operating lever is moving toward said second position;
restraining means release means connected with said restraining means and with said operating lever for moving said restraining means to release said printing head to move to said fourth position when said operating lever has moved a predetermined distance toward said second position, said biasing means then urging said printing head toward said fourth position;
at said fourth position, said printing types facing toward and engaging and imprinting a label then on said platen;
return means connected with said printing head for lifting said printing head off said fourth position and away from engagement with a label following imprinting of the label and prior to commencement of return of said operating lever toward said first position thereof.

9 more elements

A portable label printing and applying machine, comprising:

a machine frame;
a platen supported by said machine frame;
label moving means for moving a label onto said platen to be imprinted;
an operating lever supported by and movable with respect to said machine frame between a first and a second position;
a printing head supported by and movable with respect to said machine frame between a third and a fourth position;
said printing head including printing types;
at said fourth position of said printing head, said printing types being in position to engage and engaging a label on said platen and imprinting the same;
a yoke supported on said machine frame and being movable with respect to said machine frame between a fifth and a sixth position;
said printing head being connected to said yoke and said printing head being moved by said yoke between said third and said fourth positions due respectively, to movement of said yoke between said fifth and said sixth positions;
biasing means operatively connected between said operating lever and said printing head for biasing said printing head away from said third position toward said fourth position as said operating lever is operated toward said second position;
printing head restraining means engaging said yoke and blocking said yoke from moving to said sixth position for restraining movement of said printing head toward said fourth position as said operating lever is moving toward said second position;
restraining means release means comprising engaging means connected to said operating lever to move therewith and for engaging said restraining means as said operating lever moves toward said second position to separate said restraining means from said yoke for releasing said printing head to move to said fourth position when said operating lever has moved a predetermined distance toward said second position, said biasing means then urging said printing head toward said fourth position;
at said fourth position, said printing types facing toward and engaging and imprinting a label then on said platen.

10 more elements

A portable label printing and applying machine, comprising:

a machine frame;
a platen supported by said machine frame;
label moving means for moving a label onto said platen to be imprinted;
an operating lever supported by and movable with respect to said machine frame between a first and a second position;
a printing head supported by and movable with respect to said machine frame between a third and a fourth position;
said printing head including printing types;
at said fourth position of said printing head, said printing types being in position to engage and engaging a label on said platen and imprinting the same;
said printing head comprises a first part connected with said biasing means and comprises a second part, separately movable with respect to said first part, on which said printing types are supported;
said printing head having a fifth position, intermediate its said third and said fourth positions, at which said printing types are spaced from and facing toward a label that is then on said platen;
biasing means operatively connected between said operating lever and said printing head for biasing said printing head away from said third position toward said fourth position as said operating lever is operated toward said second position;
printing head restraining means connected with said printing head for restraining movement thereof toward said fourth position as said operating lever is moving toward said second position;
said printing head restraining means engaging said first printing head part at said printing head fifth position and holding said printing head first part at said fifth position and restraining said printing head first part from moving to said fourth position;
second biasing means connected between said first and said second printing head parts and adapted to permit said second printing head part to move beyond said fifth position to said fourth position, for charging said second biasing means as said second printing head part moves to said fourth position from said fifth position and for normally biasing said second printing head part to return to said fifth position;
restraining means release means connected with said restraining means and with said operating lever for moving said restraining means to release said printing head to move to said fourth position when said operating lever has moved a predetermined distance toward said second position, said biasing means then urging said printing head toward said fourth position;
at said fourth position, said printing types facing toward and engaging and imprinting a label then on said platen.

12 more elements

A portable label printing and applying machine, comprising:

a machine frame;
a platen supported by said machine frame;
label moving means for moving a label onto said platen to be imprinted;
an operating lever supported by and movable with respect to said machine frame between a first and a second position;
a printing head supported by and movable with respect to said machine frame between a third and a fourth position;
said printing head including printing types;
at said fourth position of said printing head, said printing types being in position to engage and engaging a label on said platen and imprinting same;
biasing means connectable with said printing head for biasing said printing head to move to said fourth position;
connection means for operatively connecting said printing head and said biasing means;
said connection means being engaged by said operating lever to be moved, by means of motion of said operating lever to said second position, to cause said connection means to eventually connect said printing head and said biasing means;
said biasing means being so connected with said connection means that movement of said connection means to connect said printing head and said biasing means charge said biasing means to urge said printing head to said fourth position when said printing head and said biasing means are eventually connected;
disengaging means for disengaging said operating lever and said connection means upon the connection of said biasing means and said printing head by said connection means, whereby said biasing means now connected with said printing head, is freed to bias said printing head to said fourth position.

9 more elements

A portable label printing and applying machine, comprising:

a machine frame;
a platen supported by said machine frame;
label moving means for moving a label onto said platen to be imprinted;
an operating lever supported by and movable with respect to said machine frame between a first and a second position;
a printing head supported by and movable with respect to said machine frame between a third and a fourth position, said printing head including printing types;
at said fourth position of said printing head, said printing types being in position to engage and engaging a label on said platen and imprinting same;
biasing means for biasing said printing head toward said fourth position;
said biasing means being connected to said operating lever so as to be charged for urging said printing head to said fourth position as said operating lever moves toward said second position;
means for discharging said biasing means against said printing head after said biasing means has been charged by said operating lever, for shifting said printing head to said fourth position under the influence of the discharging said biasing means.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.