Label dispenser with selectable dispense modes including an on-demand mode

A hand held labeler for printing and dispensing labels, said labeler being selectively operable in a plurality of dispensing modes including an automatic dispense mode and a manual dispense mode, comprising:

• means for printing labels;
• means for applying printed labels;
• means for entering a dispensing mode according to which said labeler is to be operable, said entered mode being selected from said plurality of dispensing modes;
• means for detecting a plurality of different label dispense initiation events;
• and
• means for controlling said labeler to dispense printed labels in response to the detection of different label dispense initiation events depending upon said selected dispensing mode.

A device for dispensing labels, said device being selectively operable in a plurality of dispensing modes including an automatic dispense mode and a manual dispense mode, comprising:

• means for entering a dispensing mode selected from said plurality of dispensing modes;
• a sensing mechanism for detecting the presence or absence of a label dispensed from said device;
• a manual actuator mounted on said device;
• a communication interface for receiving communications from a host device including a command to initiate label dispensing;
• and
• means for selectively controlling said device to dispense labels in response to said sensing mechanism, said manual actuator or said initiate label dispensing command depending upon said selected dispensing mode.

A device for dispensing pressure sensitive labels releasably adhered to a carrier web of a composite label web, comprising:

• a manually operable actuator;
• means for printing on a label;
• means for advancing the composite label web to the printing means;
• means for delaminating a printed label from a carrier web;
• means for sensing the presence or absence of a label beyond the printing means;
• means for entering the number of labels to be printed in a label strip;
• means for entering one dispensing mode selected from a plurality of dispensing modes, the modes including a first mode wherein a label is printed and dispensed upon each actuation of the actuator, a second mode wherein a label is printed and dispensed when the absence of a label is sensed by the sensing means, a third mode wherein a label strip is printed and dispensed upon each actuation of the actuator with the number of labels in the strip being equal to a number entered via said entering means, and a fourth mode wherein a label strip is printed and dispensed when the absence of a label is sensed by the sensing means with the number of labels in the strip being equal to a number entered via said entering means.

A device for dispensing pressure sensitive labels releasably adhered to a carrier web of a composite label web, comprising:

• means for printing on a label;
• means for advancing the composite label web to the printing means;
• means for delaminating a printed label from the carrier web;
• means for sensing the presence or absence of a label beyond the printing means;
• means for selectively entering a dispensing mode selected from a plurality of dispensing modes;
• and an actuator, wherein the printing means and the advancing means are operated to print and dispense a label in a first mode upon actuation of the actuator, and wherein the printing means and the advancing means are operated to print and dispense a label in a second mode under control of the sensing means, and means including a microprocessor for operating the printing means and the advancing means in accordance with the mode selected.