Printing device for hand labeler

In a printing device for use with a hand labeler capable of accomplishing a plurality of operational cycles, each having the steps of printing, dispensing and applying a label from a continuous label strip to a commodity, said printing device including a pair of juxtaposed frames spaced from each other and fixed to the body of said hand labeler;

• a plurality of bar coding rings juxtaposed to one another between said frames and carrying bar coding types on their outer peripheries, and a bar coding ring selecting mechanism having a selecting shaft, said selecting shaft being rotatable and axially movable for selectively turning one of said bar coding rings to bring the desired one of said bar coding types into its printing position;
• the improvement comprising:
• thrusting means interposed between one of said frames and said bar coding rings and being rotatable about said selecting shaft;
• said thrusting means being rotatable between a first position for thrusting said bar coding rings to the other of said frames so as to compress them together and effect frictional contact of each of said bar coding rings with the neighboring said bar coding ring and a second position for releasing said bar coding rings from the thrust together frictional contact so as to allow their independent rotation;
• moving means in engagement with said thrusting means for moving said thrusting means when said thrusting means is being rotated for alternately causing said thrusting means to move axially of said selecting shaft between said first and said second positions thereof;
• and actuating means for turning said thrusting means around said selecting shaft independently of motion of said ring selecting mechanism so as to effect the movements of the same.