Variable length printer for labels and the like

Claim 1

AN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PRINTED LABELS FROM A CONTINOUS STRIP OF LABEL STOCK, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A PRINTING ROLL, A PLATEN ROLL SPACED RADIALLY FROM SAID PRINTING ROLL AT A DISTANCE PERMITTING FREE PASSAGE OF THE STRIP BETWEEN SAID ROLLS, A CUT OFF KNIFE ON THE PRINTING ROLL EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THEREOF AND HAVING SUFFICIENT RADIAL EXTENT TO COACT WITH THE PLATEN ROLL TO CUT THE STRIP INTO DISCRETE PORTIONS, AND MEANS REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE PRINTING ROLL FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY FEEDING SAID STRIP THROUGH LENGTHS INDEPENDENT OF THE LENGTH OR PERIPHERAL TRAVEL OF SAID PRINTING ROLL AND FOR PRINTING ON SAID STRIP, SAID PRINTING AND FEEDING MEANS BEING SEPARATE FROM SAID KNIFE AND COMPRISING A CONTINUOUS TYPE FACE HAVING A PREDETERMINED LENGTH EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF SAID PRINTING ROLL FOR A DISTANCE LESS THAN THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE AND A PREDETERMINED RADIAL EXTENT PROJECTING BEYOND SAID PRINTING ROLL FROM ONE END OF SAID LENGTH TO THE OTHER TO PRESS THE STRIP AGAINST THE PLATEN ROLL TO CONCURRENTLY FEED THE STRIP AND PRINT THEREON, SAID TYPE FACE BEING THE SOLE MEANS FOR FEEDING SAID STRIP OTHER THAN SAID KNIFE WHEREBY THE LENGTH OF THE CUT PORTIONS OF SAID STRIP IS AUTOMATICALLY MEASURED BY SAID LENGTH OF SAID TYPE FACE INDEPENDENTLY OF THE LENGTH OF PERIPHERAL TRAVEL OF SAID PRINTING ROLL, AND CORRESPONDS SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE LENGTH OF THE PRINTED IMPRESSION MADE BY SAID TYPE FACE ON THE STRIP PLUS ANY ADVANCE CAUSED BY COACTION OF THE KNIFE WITH THE STRIP.

Claim 2

AN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PRINTED LABELS FROM A CONTINOUS STRIP OF LABEL STOCK, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A PRINTING ROLL, A PLATEN ROLL SPACED RADIALLY FROM SAID PRINTING ROLL AT A DISTANCE PERMITTING FREE PASSAGE OF THE STRIP BETWEEN SAID ROLLS, A CUT OFF KNIFE ON THE PRINTING ROLL EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THEREOF AND HAVING SUFFICIENT RADIAL EXTENT TO COACT WITH THE PLATEN ROLL TO CUT THE STRIP INTO DISCRETE PORTIONS, AND MEANS REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE PRINTING ROLL FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY FEEDING SAID STRIP THROUGH LENGTHS INDEPENDENT OF THE LENGTH OR PERIPHERAL TRAVEL OF SAID PRINTING ROLL AND FOR PRINTING ON SAID STRIP, SAID PRINTING AND FEEDING MEANS BEING SEPARATE FROM SAID KNIFE AND COMPRISING A CONTINUOUS TYPE FACE HAVING A PREDETERMINED LENGTH EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF SAID PRINTING ROLL FOR A DISTANCE LESS THAN THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE AND A PREDETERMINED RADIAL EXTENT PROJECTING BEYOND SAID PRINTING ROLL FROM ONE END OF SAID LENGTH TO THE OTHER TO PRESS THE STRIP AGAINST THE PLATEN ROLL TO CONCURRENTLY FEED THE STRIP AND PRINT THEREON, SAID TYPE FACE BEING THE SOLE MEANS FOR FEEDING SAID STRIP OTHER THAN SAID KNIFE WHEREBY THE LENGTH OF THE CUT PORTIONS OF SAID STRIP IS AUTOMATICALLY MEASURED BY SAID LENGTH OF SAID TYPE FACE INDEPENDENTLY OF THE LENGTH OF PERIPHERAL TRAVEL OF SAID PRINTING ROLL, AND CORRESPONDS SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE LENGTH OF THE PRINTED IMPRESSION MADE BY SAID TYPE FACE ON THE STRIP PLUS ANY ADVANCE CAUSED BY COACTION OF THE KNIFE WITH THE STRIP.