Apparatus for printing and dispensing labels

Claim 2

A labeling apparatus for dispensing pressure-sensitive adhesive labels mounted in a first spaced relation on a label-bearing carrier strip and for applying said labels onto an elongated member, said apparatus having: a. a frame; b. a take-up reel at one end of said frame, engageable with said elongated member as a first rolling means for said frame and for receiving said carrier strip after said labels have been removed from said carrier strip; c. a rolling means on said frame in rolling spaced relation with said take-up reel,

Claim 3

said label being moved in said one direction by said carrier strip and into engagement with said elongated member as said carrier strip moves in said other direction toward said take-up reel,

Claim 4

said label being moved in said one direction by said carrier strip and into engagement with said elongated member as said carrier strip moves in said other direction toward said take-up reel,

Claim 5

said take-up reel and said rolling means movably supporting said frame; d. a supply reel on said frame for storing said label-bearing carrier strip; e. a peel-off member on said frame adjacent said elongated member between said rolling means and said take-up reel and for receiving said label-bearing carrier strip from said supply reel adjacent one side of said peel-off member while said label-bearing carrier strip is moving in one direction toward said elongated member so that said label continues in said one direction while said carrier strip moves around said peel-off member and continues in another direction toward said take-up reel,

Claim 6

said take-up reel and said rolling means movably supporting said frame; d. a supply reel on said frame for storing said label-bearing carrier strip; e. a peel-off member on said frame adjacent said elongated member between said rolling means and said take-up reel and for receiving said label-bearing carrier strip from said supply reel adjacent one side of said peel-off member while said label-bearing carrier strip is moving in one direction toward said elongated member so that said label continues in said one direction while said carrier strip moves around said peel-off member and continues in another direction toward said take-up reel,

Claim 7

The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said frame has a pair of opposed side plates and one of said side plates has an assembly rod projecting therefrom and into said other side plate to form said frame.

Claim 8

said label being rolled against said elongated member as said rolling means engages said label; f. either said frame being movable on said rolling means and said take-up reel in said other direction or said elongated member being movable in said one direction to rotate said take-up reel to cause said take-up reel to pull said label-bearing carrier strip from said supply reel around said peel-off member and onto said take-up reel; g. a printing means on said frame between said supply reel and said peel-off member and engageable with said labels on said label-bearing carrier strip to print a predetermined indicia on said labels; h. said printing Means having a back-up roll on said frame on the carrier strip side of said label-bearing carrier strip, a printing roll frame pivotable on said frame, and a printing roll on said printing roll frame and engageable with said labels to print said predetermined indicia on said labels; and i. said printing roll having printing means and said printing means having a peripheral length substantially equal to the length of a label thereby eliminating synchronization of the label movement through said printing means with the movement of said printing means.

Claim 9

said label being rolled against said elongated member as said rolling means engages said label; f. either said frame being movable on said rolling means and said take-up reel in said other direction or said elongated member being movable in said one direction to rotate said take-up reel to cause said take-up reel to pull said label-bearing carrier strip from said supply reel around said peel-off member and onto said take-up reel; g. a printing means on said frame between said supply reel and said peel-off member and engageable with said labels on said label-bearing carrier strip to print a predetermined indicia on said labels; h. said printing Means having a back-up roll on said frame on the carrier strip side of said label-bearing carrier strip, a printing roll frame pivotable on said frame, and a printing roll on said printing roll frame and engageable with said labels to print said predetermined indicia on said labels; and i. said printing roll having printing means and said printing means having a peripheral length substantially equal to the length of a label thereby eliminating synchronization of the label movement through said printing means with the movement of said printing means.

Claim 10

The labeling apparatus recited in claim 2 wherein said assembly rod is detachable from said other side plate.

Claim 11

The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said supply reel is mounted above said take-up reel on the opposed reel side plates of said frame.

Claim 12

The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein one reel of said supply reel and said take-up reel has opposed reel side plates connected by a roll core sleeve.

Claim 13

The labeling apparatus recited in claim 5 wherein said roll core sleeve has a first core sleeve member and a second core sleeve member detachable from said first core sleeve member to facilitate loading and unloading of said one reel.

Claim 14

The labeling apparatus recited in claim 5 wherein said roll core sleeve has a tapered portion adjacent one of said reel side plates to accommodate varying diameters of the core for said label-bearing carrier strip and varying widths of said label-bearing carrier strip.

Claim 15

The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 and having a supply reel tensioning means on one member of said supply reel and said frame engageable with the other member of said supply reel and said frame to apply a predetermined tension to said supply reel and said label bearing carrier strip stored on said supply reel.

Claim 16

The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said label-bearing carrier strip drives said back-up roll.

Claim 17

The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said printing roll is driven by said back-up roll.

Claim 18

The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said printing means has a pressure member pivotable on said frame and engageable with one member of said printing roll and said printing roll frame to apply a predetermined printing pressure to said printing roll, said labels and said back-up roll.

Claim 19

The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said back-up roll is resilient.

Claim 20

The labeling apparatus recited in claim 11 wherein one member of said frame and said pressure member has stop means to limit the pressure applying movement of said pressure member.

Claim 21

The labeling apparatus recited in claim 13 and having printing roll pressure means on one member of said pressure member, said printing roll and said printing roll frame to engage another member of said pressure member, said printing roll and said printing roll frame to limit said pressure applying movement of said pressure member and to apply a predetermined printing pressure to said printing roll, said labels and said back-up roll.

Claim 22

The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said printing means has an inking roll on said printing roll frame engageable with said printing roll for applying printing ink to said printing roll.

Claim 23

The labeling apparatus recited in claim 15 wherein said inking roll has ink roll pressure applying means for applying a predetermined inking pressure between said printing roll and said inking roll.

Claim 24

The labeling apparatus recited in claim 16 wherein said ink roll pressure applying means has a first shaft mounted on said printing roll frame, a second shaft eccentrically mounted on said first shaft and said inking roll is rotatable on said second shaft.

Claim 25

The labeling apparatus recited in claim 15 whereiN said inking roll has rigid side plates confining said inking roll during the inking operation so that said inking roll maintains its dimensional stability.

Claim 26

For a labeling apparatus for dispensing pressure-sensitive adhesive labels mounted in a spaced relation on a label-bearing carrier strip and for applying said labels onto an elongated member, said apparatus having a frame, a supply reel on said frame for storing said label-bearing carrier strip, a peel-off member on said frame for separating a label from said carrier strip and directing said label onto said elongated member, a take-up reel on said frame for receiving the label-less carrier strip, and a rolling means on said frame in rolling spaced relation with said take-up reel, a. a printing means on said frame between said supply reel and said peel-off member and engageable with said labels on said label-bearing carrier strip to print a predetermined indicia on said labels, b. said printing means having a back-up roll on said frame on the carrier strip side of said label-bearing carrier strip, a printing roll frame pivotable on said frame, and a printing roll on said printing roll frame and engageable with said labels to print said predetermined indicia on said labels; and c. said printing roll having printing means and said printing means having a peripheral length substantially equal to the length of a label thereby eliminating synchronization of the label movement through said printing means with the movement of said printing means.

Claim 27

For a labeling apparatus for dispensing pressure-sensitive adhesive labels mounted in a spaced relation on a label-bearing carrier strip and for applying said labels onto an elongated member, said apparatus having a frame, a supply reel on said frame for storing said label-bearing carrier strip, a peel-off member on said frame for separating a label from said carrier strip and directing said label onto said elongated member, a take-up reel on said frame for receiving the label-less carrier strip, and a rolling means on said frame in rolling spaced relation with said take-up reel, a. a printing means on said frame between said supply reel and said peel-off member and engageable with said labels on said label-bearing carrier strip to print a predetermined indicia on said labels, b. said printing means having a back-up roll on said frame on the carrier strip side of said label-bearing carrier strip, a printing roll frame pivotable on said frame, and a printing roll on said printing roll frame and engageable with said labels to print said predetermined indicia on said labels; and c. said printing roll having printing means and said printing means having a peripheral length substantially equal to the length of a label thereby eliminating synchronization of the label movement through said printing means with the movement of said printing means.

Claim 28

The printing means recited in claim 19 wherein said label-bearing carrier strip drives said back-up roll.

Claim 29

The printing means recited in claim 20 wherein said printing roll is driven by said back-up roll.

Claim 30

The printing means recited in claim 20 wherein said printing means has a pressure member pivotable on said frame and engageable with one member of said printing roll and said printing roll frame to apply a predetermined printing pressure to said printing roll, said labels and said back-up roll.

Claim 31

The printing means recited in claim 20 wherein said back-up roll is resilient.

Claim 32

The printing means recited in claim 22 wherein one member of said frame and said pressure member has stop means to limit the pressure applying movement of said pressure member.

Claim 33

The printing means recited in claim 24 having printing roll pressure means on one member of said pressure member, said printing roll and said printing roll frame to engage another member of said pressure member, said printing roll and said printing roll frame, when said stop means limits said pressure applying movement of said pressure member, to apply a predetermined printing pressure to said printing roll, said labels and said back-up roll.

Claim 34

The printing means recited in claim 19 wherein said printing means has an inking roll on said printing roll frame engageable with said printing roll for applying printing ink to said printing roll.

Claim 35

The printing means recited in claim 26 wherein said inking roll has ink roll pressure applying means for applying a predetermined inking pressure between said printing roll and said inking roll.

Claim 36

The printing means recited in claim 27 wherein said ink roll pressure applying means has a first shaft mounted on said printing roll frame, a second shaft eccentrically mounted on said first shaft and said inking roll is rotatable on said second shaft.