JPH0211426B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to label imprinters for automatic labeling machines, and more particularly to fixed head imprinters with self-advancing printing tape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various printing devices are known for printing container labels with code or data information during automatic labeling processes. Many of these known imprinters wet-ink or stamp the code onto the label before it is applied to the container, such as while on a transfer turret. It is also known to apply codes, for example using an inkjet printer, after the containers have left the labeling machine.

Wet ink printers tend to smear or smudge ink, and quick-drying ink tends to clump or harden. As wet ink rollers come into use, the printed symbols gradually fade. Wet inks are preferred for relatively expensive labels that are uncoated or have uncoated areas. The embossing is often difficult to read, and ink jet printers are expensive and expensive to maintain.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide legible, non-bleeding and non-smearing printing on labeled containers using a relatively inexpensive and easy to maintain imprinter.

Means for Solving the Problem This objective is achieved by an imprinter that prints a code on the container label after labeling the container with an automatic labeling machine. It has a fixed position thermal printing head that ensures crisp printing and an automatic ribbon advancement device that advances the thermal transfer ribbon.

The thermal transfer head is located along the label pressing station of an automatic labeling machine through which the containers are passed after labeling. The labeled container is passed through a printing head with a printing ribbon stretched over it. After the container with the printed code has passed the printing head, a ribbon advancement device lifts the ribbon from the printing head, advances the ribbon, and then passes the printed container past the printing head. The ribbon is lowered onto the print head before the labeled container passes through the print head.

In this way, the printing of codes or data symbols on the label can be done accurately during the labeling process. The printing head is fixedly mounted with respect to the automatic labeling machine, but is mounted resiliently to accommodate the irregularities of the individual containers and to ensure clear printing of the code.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION Because the printing ribbon for a thermal printing head is not only advanced during each label printing operation but also pulled outwardly away from the printing head, the ribbon is not preheated or melted and damage to the printing head is avoided. can avoid.

The apparatus of the present invention prints legible, non-smearing and non-smearing codes and can be used on both coated and uncoated labels. This device is relatively inexpensive and requires little maintenance.
Never let your labeling machine dry out, clog up, or get covered in marks.

Embodiment FIG. 1 shows an automatic labeling machine 10. A plurality of containers 12 are fed through an automatic labeling machine 10 by a feed screw 14 and the labels are placed in a label hopper 16 as detected by a sensor (not shown).
by a transfer turret 18 and placed on a rotating label drum 20. As the label drum 20 rotates, a glue applicator 22 applies glue to the back side of each label, applying the label to the container as it passes through the label drum 20. Vessel 12 is then connected to a pressure station 24 including a pressure pad 26 and an opposing pressure belt 28.
sent to. Pressure pad 26 and pressure belt 28 engage opposite sides of container 12 and rotate them along pressure station 24 to ensure that the label is securely affixed to the container.

Label imprinter 30 according to principles of the invention
is located at the hole 32 in the pressure pad 26 so that as each container 12 passes through the hole 32 a code is printed by the imprinter 30. The present imprinter 30 includes a ribbon supply reel 34, a ribbon take-up reel 36, and a thermal transfer head 38.

As shown in FIG. 2, ribbon 40, preferably a thermal printing ribbon, travels from a supply reel 34 around a plurality of reels and pins, through a thermal printing head 38, and onto a ribbon take-up reel 36. Rollers 42, 44, 46 are fixed relative to thermal printing head 38. However, the ribbon play roller 48 guides the ribbon onto the thermal printing head 38 through guide pins 50,5.
2, it is slidable relative to the thermal printing head 38. A pair of rollers 54, 56 are driven by a clutch 58 which advances the ribbon 40 intermittently. Ribbon 40 is clutch roller 5
4, 56 and then wound onto the take-up reel 36. The ribbon track therefore has a stationary part and a moving part.

The stationary part 60 of the imprinter 30 is fixedly provided on the automatic labeling machine 10, but the movable part 62 is slidably provided on the stationary part 60. Movable part 62
Movement of is caused by a selectively actuated drive 64, such as a pneumatic drive, including a piston arm 66 having a clevis 68 at its distal end.
Drive 64 moves piston arm 66 in one direction along its axis. Clovis 68 has a first cam aperture 72 and its cam follower (not shown) that moves ribbon 4 during movement of piston arm 66.
It is attached to a shuttle 70 which actuates a clutch 58 which advances the 0. Shuttle 70 is similarly linked to a slider block 74 slidably mounted on rail pins 76,78. This slider block 74 is the shuttle 70
It includes a follower 80 that rides within a second cam aperture 82 .
Thus, when shuttle 70 is moved by drive 64, slider block 74 slides along rail pins 76,78. Since ribbon idler roller 48 and ribbon guide pins 50,52 are fixed relative to slider block 74, when drive 64 moves shuttle 70, roller 48 and pins 50,52 are also moved.

The thermal printing head 38 is mounted on a stationary part 60 so that the drive 64 is connected to the guide pins 50,5.
2, the ribbon 40 stretched over them
is moved relative to thermal printing head 38. In FIG. 2, as piston arm 66 extends to the left, movement of cam follower 80 within cam opening 82 causes ribbon 40 to move downwardly away from thermal printing head 38. When the piston arm 66 moves to the right,
Ribbon 40 is pulled toward thermal printing head 38. The movement of the piston arm 66 is controlled by the clutch 58.
The ribbon 40 is advanced.

Thermal printing head 38 is attached to a flat head screw 84 extending through spacer mounting bar 86. A heater block mount 88 with a thermal printing head 38 mounted therein is mounted on a flat head screw 84.
is attached to. Spacer mounting bar 8
6 and heater block mount 88 is a spring washer 90, such as a curved spring washer, which provides elastic movement to the thermal printing head during the printing process. A heater 92 is provided within the thermal printing head 38 to provide heat to a type holder 94 having a plurality of types 96 mounted therein.

As it moves rotationally along pressure pad 26, container 12 passes through a hole 32 in which a thermal printing head 38 is located. Type 96 is approximately pressure pad 2
6, through which the container 12 passes when moved rotationally by the pressure belt 28. During operation of the apparatus, heater 92 heats type 96 so that when ribbon 40 is stretched over it, ribbon 40
The 0 is activated and a code of type 96 is printed on the container 12.

In the end view of imprinter 30 in FIG.
0 to the automatic labeling machine 10. A mounting bracket 98 is secured to the main case 100, which serves as a stationary frame for the imprinter 30. Third
In the illustration, the ribbon 40 is removed from the imprinter 30 so that the elements of the ribbon transport path are clearly shown. Supply reel 34 is substantially aligned with rollers 44 which are attached to main case 100 by angle brackets 102. The rollers 46 are similarly attached to the main case 100.

Rail pins 76, 78 over which slider block 74 moves are also attached to main case 100, and in the preferred embodiment, the bottle passes through main case 100 and angle bracket 102 to the rail pins 76, 78. It extends to within 78. , a cam follower 80 extends from slider block 74 into cam 82 and shuttle 70.
Shuttle 70 slides within a shuttle guide 104 attached to main case 100.

A ribbon guide mount 106 is attached to slider block 74 from which ribbon guide pins 50, 52 extend. Slider block 74
and the ribbon guide mount 106 constitute the movable portion 62. A stabilizing bracket 108 extends from the labeling machine 10 and has pads 26 adjustably attached thereto to accommodate different container sizes.

Thermal printing head 38 is attached to main case 100 by spacer mounting bars 86 as shown in FIG. A flat head screw 84 passes through a flat head hole 108 in the mounting bar 86, and a head 110 of the flat head screw 84 passes through hole 1.
08 to provide clearance for slider block 74. A spring washer 90 provides a resilient attachment between mounting bar 86 and heater block mount 88. Heater block mount 8
8 and the heating element 92 is a heat insulating space 112.
It is carried out by. Heating element 92 heats type holder 94 and thus type 96. Power to heating element 92 is provided by electrical wire 114 .

A one-way clutch device 58, shown in FIG. 5, includes a driven roller 56 that advances the ribbon 40 across the thermal printing head 38. clutch 58
is driven by movement of shuttle 70 through cam 72 and a cam follower (not shown). The clutch device 58 rotates the driven roller 56 in a first direction when the shuttle 70 makes a first movement, but when the shuttle 70 makes a second movement in the opposite direction, the roller 56 remains stationary so that the ribbon 40 moves forward. proceed. Clutch device 58 also includes a pulley 116 rotatably mounted to clutch housing 118.
Rotate. Belt member 120 rotates take-up reel 36 from pulley 116 at second pulley 12
It depends on 2. A third pulley 124 is mounted for rotation with the supply reel 34, a belt 126 is then eccentrically mounted to the main case 100, and a fourth pulley 1 serves as a brake.
It depends on the age of 28. Clutch 58 therefore withdraws ribbon 40 from supply reel 34, stepping ribbon 40 over printing ribbon 38 and winding used ribbon 40 onto take-up reel 36.

In FIG. 6, container 12 is being printed with a type 96 code. Printing head 38 is connected to pressure pad 2
6 through the hole 32 and print on the label on the container 12. A frame member 130 supports pressure pad 26 in hole 32. Although the type 96 is shown as printing a vertical code on the container 12, it can also print a horizontal code.

This imprinter 30 operates as follows.
Pressure pad 26 is provided with holes 32 through which printing heads 38 extend at known locations along its length. As the container 12 moves from the label drum 20 to the pressure station 24, the known rotational speed of the container 12 determines where the printing head 38 should be placed on the pressure pad 26 to properly print the symbol. You can decide.

Prior to operation of the imprinter, ribbon 40 is held away from heated type 96 of printing head 38, as shown in FIG. Container sensor (not shown) that initiates the labeling process
is also used to start the printing process. container 12
Once detected, drive 64 places ribbon 40 on heated type 96 as shown in FIG. As the container 12 rotates along the pressure station 24, the type 96 prints a type 96 symbol on the label of the container 12 in the thermal printing area of the ribbon 40.

Once the container 12 is printed, the pneumatic drive 64 operates in the opposite direction to move the ribbon 40 away from the printing head 38 as shown in FIG. Drive 64 also causes clutch 58 to take up the used portion of ribbon 40 onto take-up reel 36 to advance ribbon 40. The same process is repeated for subsequent containers 12.

Accordingly, the present invention teaches an apparatus and method for thermally printing codes on a variety of different containers after labeling. By using thermal printing, clear codes can be printed on a variety of different labels and containers without smearing or smearing, using equipment that will not bunch up or dry out. This imprinter is relatively simple and inexpensive. Easy to maintain;
Since the print head 38 is in a relatively stationary position, subsequent containers are printed in a constant position. The thermal printing ribbon is kept spaced from the heated type 96 except while printing the container 12, thereby preventing the type 96 from preheating or melting the ribbon. Since the printing head is resiliently mounted, each successive container can be printed with slight irregularities on its outer surface.

For illustrative purposes, the imprinter is shown for use with one type of automatic labeling machine for labeling round containers, but could easily be used with many other types of automatic labeling machines that do not have transfer turrets. Can be done. The imprinter can print on unlabeled parts of containers or even on unlabeled containers.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an automatic labeling machine including a label printing apparatus according to the principles of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the label printing apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side elevational view along the line - of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along line - in FIG. 2. 5 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 2; FIG. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line - in FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a partial plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 2 showing advancement of the printing tape.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A printing device for use with an automatic labeling machine for pasting labels on containers, which has a pressure station for pasting labels on containers, the printing head being provided in a hole in the pressure station of the automatic labeling machine. a heater arranged to heat the printing head; a ribbon supply device for holding the thermal transfer ribbon; a ribbon take-up device for receiving the thermal transfer ribbon; and a ribbon take-up device for receiving the thermal transfer ribbon from the ribbon supply device. a stationary part comprising a device for creating a ribbon transport path to the device; a ribbon guide that straddles the printing head and is slidably attached to the stationary part and forms part of the ribbon transport path; a movable portion including a drive device selectively actuated to move the movable portion; and a clutch mounted in the ribbon transport path and actuated by the drive device to advance the ribbon. printing device. 2. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the printing head is resiliently attached to the stationary part. 3. The printing device according to claim 1, further comprising a shuttle operated by the drive device, a cam and a cam follower jointly connecting the shuttle to the movable part. 4. Said ribbon supply device includes a ribbon supply reel, said ribbon take-up device includes a ribbon take-up reel, and further includes a device for linking said clutch with said take-up reel and said supply reel. The printing device according to item 1.