Label printing apparatus

Claim 1

Labeling apparatus adapted for successively printing, dispensing and applying a series of pressure sensitive labels, said apparatus comprising a housing including a handle portion, means for supporting a roll of pressure sensitive labels carried by a web, a movable print head having means for selecting predetermined printing characters to be printed on each label, actuating means including a trigger member adjacent said handle portion for moving said print head to effect successive printing of the labels on the web and for advancing the web, means for delaminating each printed label from the web in response to advancement of the web and after the label is printed, an ink roller having axially projecting journals at opposite ends, means supporting said ink roller for movement across the selected printing characters to apply ink to the characters, said ink roller supporting means including a movable frame member including spaced side walls integrally connected by at least one cross member, said frame member having spaced bearing portions forming generally U-shaped bearing surfaces positioned to receive said journals of said ink roller, a retaining member having spaced arm portions extending between said side walls of said frame member and forming latch portions, means connected to said frame member and supporting said retaining member for pivotal movement between a retaining position with said arm portions holding said journals within said bearing surfaces and a retracted position providing for free release of said journals from said bearing surfaces, releasable latch means for securing said retaining member in said retaining position on said frame member, and said latch portions are pinched together to release said latch means for pivoting said retaining member.