Strip label printer

Claim 1

The apparatus for imprinting labels one-at-a-time while detachably-fastened in longitudinally-spaced relation to the surface of a backing strip having at least one aperture in the space between adjacent labels comprising: an elongate flat bedplate having at least one slot extending longitudinally thereof; track-forming means disposed atop said bedplate adapted to receive the label strip and guide same along the slot so that one of the apertures therein remains in registry therewith; a printing head mounted for movement upon actuation between an elevated inoperative position above the label strip and an operative position in indicia-forming contact therewith; a shuttle subassembly disposed beneath the slot in the bedplate for advancing the label strip and placing the labels one-at-a-time underneath the printing head, said assembly including a transversely-extending drive shaft, a crank arm mounted on said drive shaft for rotational movement therewith in a vertical plane paralleling the slot in the bedplate, a slide block having an upper surface disposed for sliding movement along the underside of the bedplate beneath the slot therein, said surface including an upstanding rib sized for guided movement along the bedplate slot and a fulcrum alongside said rib bearing against a portion of the bedplate adjacent said slot, said rib including an ear engageable within the registering aperture in the label strip effective to advance same upon forward movement of the slide block, and said fulcrum mounting said slide block for rockable movement between a rearwardly-tilted operative position wherein said ear is extended to engage the label strip and a forwardly-tilted inoperative position wherein said ear is retracted beneath said label strip, and a rigid link having opposite ends pivotally connected to the crank arm and slide block at a point spaced from the fulcrum, said link being operative upon rotation of the crank to shuttle the slide block back and forth, said crank arm and link cooperating with one another and with the slide block to tilt the latter rearwardly when pushing it forwardly and to tilt same forwardly when pulling it rearwardly, and the pivotal connection between said link and slide block being so arranged relative to the fulcrum carried by the latter as to tilt same between its operative and inoperative positions when the direction of motion of said slide block reverses; and, cam means carried by said drive shaft for rotation therewith, said cam means being connected to said printing head and effective upon rotation to reciprocate same between its operative and inoperative positions, and said cam being oriented on said shaft in relation to the crank means so as to move the printing head into operative position during the return stroke of the shuttle subassembly when the slide block is inoperative.

Claim 2

The apparatus for imprinting labels one-at-a-time while detachably-fastened in longitudinally-spaced relation to the surface of a backing strip having at least one aperture in the space between adjacent labels comprising: an elongate flat bedplate having at least one slot extending longitudinally thereof; track-forming means disposed atop said bedplate adapted to receive the label strip and guide same along the slot so that one of the apertures therein remains in registry therewith; a printing head mounted for movement upon actuation between an elevated inoperative position above the label strip and an operative position in indicia-forming contact therewith; a shuttle subassembly disposed beneath the slot in the bedplate for advancing the label strip and placing the labels one-at-a-time underneath the printing head, said assembly including a transversely-extending drive shaft, a crank arm mounted on said drive shaft for rotational movement therewith in a vertical plane paralleling the slot in the bedplate, a slide block having an upper surface disposed for sliding movement along the underside of the bedplate beneath the slot therein, said surface including an upstanding rib sized for guided movement along the bedplate slot and a fulcrum alongside said rib bearing against a portion of the bedplate adjacent said slot, said rib including an ear engageable within the registering aperture in the label strip effective to advance same upon forward movement of the slide block, and said fulcrum mounting said slide block for rockable movement between a rearwardly-tilted operative position wherein said ear is extended to engage the label strip and a forwardly-tilted inoperative position wherein said ear is retracted beneath said label strip, and a rigid link having opposite ends pivotally connected to the crank arm and slide block at a point spaced from the fulcrum, said link being operative upon rotation of the crank to shuttle the slide block back and forth, said crank arm and link cooperating with one another and with the slide block to tilt the latter rearwardly when pushing it forwardly and to tilt same forwardly when pulling it rearwardly, and the pivotal connection between said link and slide block being so arranged relative to the fulcrum carried by the latter as to tilt same between its operative and inoperative positions when the direction of motion of said slide block reverses; and, cam means carried by said drive shaft for rotation therewith, said cam means being connected to said printing head and effective upon rotation to reciprocate same between its operative and inoperative positions, and said cam being oriented on said shaft in relation to the crank means so as to move the printing head into operative position during the return stroke of the shuttle subassembly when the slide block is inoperative.