Electronic hand labeler

A labeler, comprising:

• a labeler housing which defines an interior for supporting a label printing mechanism therein;
• an openable bottom cover mounted to the labeler housing;
• a thermal print head supported in the labeler housing for printing information on labels which are conveyed through the labeler, means for securing the print head in the labeler and further means for loosening the securing means to allow the print head to be individually withdrawn from the interior, said securing means including a screw for securing the print heat tightly in place;
• a platen arm mounted in the interior of the labeler and disposed generally between the bottom cover and the print head, the platen arm being movable between a closed position and an open position, the platen arm including a screw-driven-access opening therein which opening is aligned, when the platen arm is in said open position, with the screw to enable the screw to be reached and tightened by a tool which is insertable through the platen arm;
• a platen roller supported on the platen arm and so positioned on the platen arm that in the closed position of the platen arm the platen roller lies adjacent the print head;
• means for rotating the platen roller to thereby cause a backing sheet to which the labels are detachably attached to be conveyed past the print head;
• and
• a set pin for holding the bottom cover in its closed position, a set pin guide slot through which the set pin is movable, a link member coupled to the set pin and a hook means coupled to the link member and engageable with the platen arm to secure the platen arm in its closed position whereby the set pin is effective for releasing the hook means to cause the bottom cover and the platen arm to move simultaneously to their respective open positions.

A labeler, comprising:

• a labeler housing which defines an interior for supporting a label printing mechanism therein;
• an openable bottom cover mounted to the labeler housing;
• a thermal print head supported in the labeler housing for printing information on labels which are conveyed through the labeler, means for securing the print head in the labeler and further means for loosening the securing means to allow the print head to be individually withdrawn from the interior, the securing means including a retainer plate for supporting the print head in the interior of the labeler and a baseplate which is mounted to the labeler housing;
• a platen arm mounted in the interior of the labeler and disposed generally between the bottom cover and the print head, the platen arm being movable between a closed position and an open position;
• a platen roller supported on the platen arm and so positioned on the platen arm that in the closed position of the platen arm the platen roller lies adjacent the print head;
• means for rotating the platen roller to thereby cause a backing sheet to which the labels are detachably attached to be conveyed past the print head;
• and
• mounting means on the baseplate for supporting the baseplate resiliently against the labeler housing so that when the platen arm is in its closed position the print head which is coupled to the baseplate bears resiliently against the platen of the platen arm, the mounting means including a first engaging member at one side edge of the baseplate and a second engaging member spaced from the first engaging member and at an oppositely located side edge of the base plate, each of the first and second engaging members having a respective free end, the labeler having socket portion means for removably receiving therein the free end of one of the engaging members, the free end of the other of the engaging member being abutted against the labeler housing, and the engaging members being constructed of a springly material to allow the print heat to bear resiliently against and to self align with the platen roller.