CA2306549A1 - Continuous push-pull quick release clamp and label application apparatus incorporating same - Google Patents

Abstract

A continuous push-pull quick release clamp for resisting axial movement of a body along a shaft comprising a plate having a spring pivotally mounted at one end and an opposite end with a diameter sized to receive the shaft. The plate also includes an aperture sized to be received on the shaft adjacent to the body. In use, the coil spring is slid onto the shaft adjacent to the body and the plate is pivoted with respect to the end of the wire opposite the coil spring so that the aperture in the plate is received onto the shaft in an axially spaced relationship to the coil spring.
As the body acts axially on the coil spring, the force imparted by the body is transmitted through the coil spring to the opposite end of the wire where the force tends to rotate the elongated plate in a direction which causes edges of the aperture to be urged against the shaft creating a retaining force between the plate and the shaft.
The quick release clamp is specifically applicable to a label application apparatus having a supply reel rotatably mounted to a main housing and having a continuous label web thereon, wherein the clamp adjustably retains the supply reel on a supply reel shaft.

Description

CONTINUOUS PUSH-PULL QUICK RELEASE CLAMP AND LABEL APPLICATION
APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention The invention relates to a continuous push-pull quick release clamp. In one of its aspects, the invention relates to a label printer/applicator having an adjustable retainer for a supply reel of label web.
Description of the Related Art In labeling objects such as packages, envelopes and the like, a label pasting and cutting apparatus is typically provided with a web of label material on a continuous backing web or the like. Alternatively, the label web can be "linerless", i.e., without backing material. Typically, the label web on the backing is advanced from a supply reel, and through a printer, which can provide desired indicia such as text and graphics onto the label, in addition to any indicia already pre-printed onto the label. The backing web is then advanced over a label separator roller or "peeler" bar onto a take-up reel while the label material, separated from the backing web, is advanced to a cutter and label applicator. By means of the cutter, the printed label is cut from the continuous label web and is transferred to an object, such as package or envelope or the like, by the applicator.
The supply label web on the supply reel is mounted for rotation about a fixed axle. Conventionally, the supply reel is blocked from axial movement on the axle by a screw or pin. When rotating, however, the supply reel has a tendency to walk upon the axle, moving the screw or pin and, therefore, disrupting the otherwise smooth continuous flow of label web from the reel. The consequence of the disruption is jamming of the paper, the printer, the roller, and/or cutter. When such bunching or jamming of the label web happens, the label printing and cutting apparatus must be stopped, whereupon the bunched or jammed material is removed and reversed rolled onto the supply reel. Occasionally, the material is so jammed or bunched that it is destroyed, and the label web must be cut and refed to the machine to continue proper operation. This disruption due to a wobbling supply reel is inconvenient and causes material and labor waste.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a continuous push-pull quick release clamp for resisting axial movement of a body along a shaft. According to the invention, the quick release clamp comprises an elongated plate having a wire pivotally mounted at one end, the wire having a coil spring at an opposite end. The plate also includes an aperture sized to be received on the shaft adjacent to the body. In use, the coil spring is slid onto the shaft adjacent to the body and the plate is pivoted with respect to the end of the wire opposite the coil spring so that the aperture in the plate is received onto the shaft in an axially spaced relationship to the coil spring. As the body acts axially on the coil spring, the force imparted by the body is transmitted through the coil spring to the opposite end of the wire where the force tends to rotate the elongated plate in a direction which causes edges of the aperture to be urged against the shaft.
In another embodiment, the invention relates to a label application apparatus comprising a main housing, a printer mounted to the housing, an applicator mounted to the main housing adjacent to the printer for applying a label to an object, a supply reel rotatably mounted to the main housing and having a continuous label web thereon, a clamp for adjustably retaining the supply reel, a feed mechanism for feeding the continuous label web from the supply reel to the printer and applicator, and a cutting mechanism associated with the applicator to cut labels from the continuous label web between the printer and the applicator.
Preferably, the adjustable clamp comprises an elongated plate having a wire pivotally mounted at one end, the wire having a coil spring at an opposite end. The plate also includes an aperture sized to be received on the supply reel shaft adjacent to the supply reel. In use, the coil spring is slid onto the shaft adjacent to the supply reel and the plate is pivoted with respect to the end of the wire opposite the coil spring so that the aperture in the plate is received onto the supply reel shaft in an axially spaced relationship to the coil spring and the supply reel. As the supply reel acts axially on the coil spring, the axial force imparted by the supply reel is transmitted through the coil spring to the opposite end of the wire where the force tends to rotate the elongated plate in a direction which causes edges of the aperture to be urged against the shaft.
Thus, the aperture edges tend to strongly frictionally abut the supply reel shaft and prevents the supply reel from axial movement along the supply reel shaft.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of label printer/applicator including a supply reel clamp according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the supply reel clamp of FIG. 1 on the supply reel axle;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the supply reel clamp of FIG.
1;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the supply reel clamp of FIG.
1; and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the supply reel clamp of FIG. 1 on the supply reel axle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Refernng now to the drawings and to FIG. 1 in particular, a label printer/applicator 100 is shown comprising a housing 102 which mounts a printer 104 and an applicator 106.
The housing 102 rotatably mounts a supply reel 108. The supply reel 108 carnes a wound length of a continuous web of label material 110 which is often applied to a backing material (not shown). In the description provided herein the printer/applicator 100 is shown operating with a "linerless" label web 110, although it can be plainly seen that an alternative label web 110 having a backing material can be used without departing from the scope of this invention.

The supply reel 108 is rotatably mounted on a support axle 112 which, in turn, is mounted to the housing 102. One or more slack rollers 114 can be rotatably mounted to the housing 102 for guiding a tensioned length of the continuous label web 110 toward the printer 104.
The housing 102 has a printer platform 116 adapted to receive the label web 110 from the supply reel 108 located adjacent a lower portion of the housing which has a recess 118. A print roller 120 is rotatably mounted to the housing within the recess 118. The print roller 120 is preferably imparted with rotational motion by a conventional motor (not shown) which is mounted to the housing 102.
The print roller 120 preferably has an outer diameter sized with the recess 118 so that an outer surface of the print roller 120 is generally flush with an outer surface of the printer platform 116. It has also been found that the print roller 120 can extend beyond the recess 118 a small amount for abutment of the label web 110 passing over the recess 118.
The printer 104 comprises a printer housing 122 which has a lower portion 124 provided with a conventional print head 126. The print head 126 can be any conventional print head from the many known in the art such as a dot matrix, thermal transfer, ink jet, etc. It will be understood that the print head 126 is interconnected to an information store (not shown) which provides proper instructions to the print head 126. The printer housing 122 is mounted to the housing 102.
The applicator 106 is mounted to the housing 102 downstream of the printer 104 and generally comprises a head 128 which is adapted to receive a length of printed label web 110 from the printer 104, retain the length of printed label web 110 while it is severed from the remaining continuous length of label web 110 and apply the severed label to an object adjacent to the printer/applicator 100.
The printer/applicator 100 operates generally by providing the supply reel 108 with a length of label web 110. The label web 110 is fed over the slack rollers 114, onto the printer platform 116 and between the print roller 120 and the print head 126 where the label web 110 is printed with any desired indicia such as text and graphics.
Rotation of the print roller 120 drives the label web 110 between the print head 126 and the print roller 120.

After the label web 110 is printed, the label web 110 is fed to the applicator 106 where a discrete length of the label web 110 is severed from the continuous web and applied to an object. If a label web 110 having backing web is used, the backing web (not shown in FIG. 1) is collected on a secondary accumulator such as a take-up reel as is well known in the art.
The support axle 112 for rotatably mounting supply reel 108 is typically non-rotatably mounted to the housing 102. The supply reel 108 includes a cylindrical aperture therethrough for sliding reception onto the supply reel axle 112.
Once properly mounted thereon, the supply reel 108 is free to rotate about the support axle 112 as the continuous label web 110 is pulled therefrom to feed the printer 104 and the applicator 106.
The support axle 112 for the supply reel 108 includes a distal axle end 240 which receives a supply reel clamp 230. The supply reel clamp 230 functions to retain the supply reel 108 on the support axle 112 for rotation thereabout. More specifically, the supply reel clamp 230 blocks the supply reel 108 against axial motion along the support axle 112. That is, with the supply reel clamp 230 properly in place, the supply reel 108 is free to rotate about the supply reel support axle 112 but cannot move laterally or axially along the support axle 112 because it is blocked by the clamp 230.
The supply reel clamp 230 includes an elongated plate 232 having a flange 250 at one end which pivotally mounts a wire 234. The plate 230 has a keyed aperture 238 at an intermediate portion 252 of the plate 232 for receiving the distal axle end 240 of the support axle 112. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the keyed aperture is shown as being circular in shape to receive the distal axle end 240 with a corresponding circular geometric shape. Other geometric shapes of the keyed aperture 238 are possible, such as the generally rectangular keyed aperture 238a shown in plate 232a of the second embodiment of the supply reel clamp 230a of FIG. 4. Other geometric configurations for the aperture 238 of the clamp 230 can be employed without departing from the scope of this invention.
The wire 234 is pivotally mounted to the flange 250 of the plate 232 by an upper loop 244 which is received in a mounting aperture 246 of the flange 250 on a connecting end 248 of the flange 250. The pivotal connection of the wire 234 and the plate 232 is facilitated by the reception of the loop 244 within the mounting aperture 246.
The wire 234 includes an integral coil spring 236 located at an end of the wire 234 opposite the loop 244. The coil spring 236 has an inner diameter d;~ which preferably generally corresponds to the outer diameter of the supply reel support axle 112. The aperture 238 has an inner diameter d~, which preferably generally corresponds to the outer diameter of the supply reel support axle 112, although it has been found that the inner diameters of the coil spring 236 and the aperture 238 are preferably related in the following manner:
d;Z _> d,~.
In this manner, the aperture 238 has greater clearance with respect to the outer surface of the support axle 112 than the coil spring 236. The wire 234 also preferably has a length l of wire between the loop 244 and the coil spring 236 which is sufficient to cant the plate 232 at an acute angle with respect to the support axle 112 when the clamp 230 is mounted to the support axle 230 as will be further described below.
The coil spring 236 is slid co-axially onto the support axle 112. The plate is then pivoted with respect to the loop 244 on the wire 234 so that the aperture 238 can also be slidably mounted onto the support axle 112. The coil spring 236 is can then be urged along the support axle 112 and against the supply reel 114. When properly mounted, the supply reel clamp 230 prevents the supply reel 114 from axially moving along the support axle 112.
Due to the pivotal connection of the wire 234 and the relative dimensions d;l, d;z and 1 of the wire 234 and plate 232, the plate 232 is set at an acute angle relative to a transverse axis of the support axle 112. Thus, the edges of the plate 232 defining the keyed aperture 238 frictionally abut the support axle 112 as the length 1 of the wire 234 causes the plate 232 to abut the support axle 112 at an acute angle. This frictional abutment resists movement of the supply reel clamp 230 axially along the support axle 106. However , coil spring 236 provides a very limited degree of axial movement by the supply reel 108 as it abuts the coil spring 236 during rotation of the supply reel 108 during operation of the printer/applicator 100.

_'J_ This limited axial movement of the supply reel 108 allowed by the coil spring 236 of the supply reel clamp 230 does not interrupt normal operation of the machine, nor allow bunching or jamming of the continuous web of label material 110 in the printer/applicator 100. The coil spring 236 acts as a "shock absorber" during these S limited axial movements of the supply reel 108 against the coil spring 236.
However, to the extent that the supply reel 108 acts against the coil spring 236 in a more forceful manner, this axial force is redirected along the wire 234 which, in turn, applies a tangential force at the connecting end 248 of the plate 232 through the loop 244.
This tangential force creates a moment arm, as illustrated by the arrow "A" in FIG. 2, causing the plate 232 to attempt to rotate counterclockwise in the orientation of FIG. 2. The edges of the aperture 238, due to the slightly larger diameter of the aperture 238 relative to the support axle 112, are thereby forced into further abutment against the support axle 112. Thus, the increased axial force exerted by the supply reel 108 is actually used to increase the abutment of the clamp 230 on the support axle 1 S 112 and prevent axial movement of the supply reel 108 along the support axle 112.
Retaining the supply reel 114 on the support axle 106 with limited axial movement allows normal operation of the label printing and apply apparatus 100 without any interruptions due to jamming or bunching of the continuous web of label material 110. While some axial movement must be allowed, the movement must be resisted and prevented from disrupting the normal operation. Accordingly, the combination of the coil spring 236 of the wire 234 when the fractionally engaging edges of the aperture 238 of the plate 232 allow the supply reel clamp 230 to adjustably retain the supply reel 114 on the support axle 106 for proper operation of the label printing and applying apparatus 100.
Further, the simple friction in spring mechanism facilitates easy removal and replacement of the supply reel clamp 230 as rolls of label material 110 are removed and replaced on the support axle 112. The clamp 230 is easily removed from the support axle 112 by rotating the plate 232 of the clamp 230 clockwise (in the orientation shown in FIG. 2) so that the larger diameter of the aperture 238 is axially aligned with the support axle 112. The clamp 230 is then merely slid without restriction along the support axle 112 and thereby removed.

_g_ It will be understood that, although the clamp 230 has been described with specific application to a label apparatus 100, the inventive features of the clamp 230 are broadly applicable to a wide spectrum of uses. Without reference to the label apparatus 100, the invention relates to a continuous push-pull quick release clamp 230 for resisting axial movement of a body 114 along a shaft 106. It is contemplated that the clamp 230 disclosed herein has many uses in the construction and building industries, camping applications such as a tent stake clamp, and many other uses not disclosed herein but would be apparent to one skilled in the art who requires that a body be prevented from axial movement along a shaft in a particular direction.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the foregoing disclosure of the invention without departing from the spirit of the 1 S invention.

Claims (38)

1. A continuous, push-pull quick release clamp for preventing axial movement of a body along a shaft of a given diameter, the release clamp comprising:
a plate having an aperture adapted to receive the shaft in a loose fitting relationship, permitting a small degree of pivotal movement of the plate with respect to the shaft, the plate also having a mounting bracket thereon in a spaced relationship to the aperture; and a spring having a first end forming a central opening adapted to slidably receive the shaft in a close fitting relationship, and a second end forming an arm which has a distal end mounted to the mounting bracket on the body and biasing the plate into an acute angular relationship with respect to the shaft;
whereby the first end of the spring is adapted to be received on a shaft against a body and the aperture of the plate is received on the shaft spaced from the first end of the spring, the arm biases the plate into the acute angular relationship with the shaft to urge the edge of the aperture against the shaft and the first end of the spring resists small axial movements of the body with respect to the shaft.

2. The quick-release clamp of claim 1 wherein the arm of the spring and the mounting bracket are axially aligned with each other.

3. The quick-release clamp of claim 2 wherein the first end of the spring comprises an arcuate portion spanning at least 270 degrees.

4. The quick-release clamp of claim 3 wherein the central opening is smaller than the aperture in the plate.

5. The quick-release clamp of claim 4 wherein the length of the arm of the spring is sufficient to cant the plate at an acute angle with respect to a shaft when the spring and the plate are received on the shaft.

6. The quick-release clamp of claim 5 wherein the first end of the spring has a diameter closely approximating the shaft diameter.

7. The quick-release clamp of claim 6 wherein the aperture in the plate is rectangular.

8. The quick-release clamp of claim 6 wherein the aperture in the plate is circular.

9. The quick-release clamp of claim 6 wherein the aperture in the plate has at least one discontinuity to prevent rotational movement of the plate with respect to the shaft.

10. The quick-release clamp of claim 1 wherein the first end of the spring comprises an arcuate portion spanning at least 270 degrees.

11. The quick-release clamp of claim 1 wherein the central opening is smaller than the aperture in the plate.

12. The quick-release clamp of claim 1 wherein the length of the arm of the spring is sufficient to cant the plate at an acute angle with respect to a shaft when the spring and the plate are received on the shaft.

13. The quick-release clamp of claim 1 wherein the first end of the spring has a diameter closely approximating the shaft diameter.

14. The quick-release clamp of claim 1 wherein the aperture in the plate is rectangular.

15. The quick-release clamp of claim 1 wherein the aperture in the plate is circular.

16. The quick-release clamp of claim 1 wherein the aperture in the plate has at least one discontinuity to prevent rotational movement of the plate with respect to the shaft.

17. In a label application apparatus comprising:
a main housing having a shaft of a given diameter mounted thereon;

-11-~

a supply reel mounted to the main housing on the shaft and having an indefinite length web of label material thereon;
at least one of a printer and an applicator mounted to the main housing in alignment with the indefinite length web of label material exiting the supply reel;
the improvement comprising:
a quick-release spring biased clamp mounted on the shaft and releasably retaining the supply reel against axial movement along the shaft;
whereby the clamp permits limited axial vibration of the supply reel against the shaft and selectively prevents axial movement of the supply reel along the shaft.

18. The label application apparatus of claim 17 wherein the clamp comprises a plate having an aperture adapted to receive the shaft in a loose fitting relationship, permitting a small degree of pivotal movement of the plate with respect to the shaft, the plate also having a mounting bracket thereon in a spaced relationship to the aperture.

19. The label application apparatus of claim 18 wherein the clamp comprises a spring with a first end forming a central opening adapted to slidably receive the shaft in a close fitting relationship, and a second end forming an arm which has a distal end mounted to the mounting bracket on the plate and biasing the plate into an acute angular relationship with respect to the shaft whereby the first end of the spring is adapted to be received on a shaft against the supply reel and the aperture of the plate is received on the shaft spaced from the first end of the spring, the arm biases the plate into the acute angular relationship with the shaft to urge the edge of the aperture against the shaft and the first end of the spring resists small axial movements of the supply reel with respect to the shaft.

20. The label application apparatus of claim 19 wherein the arm of the spring and the mounting bracket are axially aligned with each other.

21. The label application apparatus of claim 20 wherein the first end of the spring comprises an arcuate portion spanning at least 270 degrees.

22. The label application apparatus of claim 21 wherein the central opening is smaller than the aperture in the plate.

23. The label application apparatus of claim 22 wherein the length of the arm of the spring is sufficient to cant the plate at an acute angle with respect to a shaft when the spring and the plate are received on the shaft.

24. The label application apparatus of claim 23 wherein the first end of the spring has a diameter closely approximating the shaft diameter.

25. The label application apparatus of claim 24 wherein the aperture in the plate is rectangular.

26. The label application apparatus of claim 24 wherein the aperture in the plate is circular.

27. The label application apparatus of claim 24 wherein the aperture in the plate has at least one discontinuity to prevent rotational movement of the body with respect to the shaft.

28. The label application apparatus of claim 24 wherein the at least one of a printer and an applicator comprises a printer mounted to the main housing for receiving the continuous web of label material and printing indicia thereon.

29. The label application apparatus of claim 28 wherein the at least one of a printer and an applicator further comprises an applicator mounted to the main housing adjacent to the printer for receiving a printed label from the printer and applying the label to an object.

30. The label application apparatus of claim 19 wherein the first end of the spring comprises an arcuate portion spanning at least 270 degrees.

31. The label application apparatus of claim 19 wherein the central opening is smaller than the aperture in the plate.

-13-~

32. The label application apparatus of claim 19 wherein the length of the arm of the spring is sufficient to cant the plate at an acute angle with respect to a shaft when the spring and the plate are received on the shaft.

33. The label application apparatus of claim 19 wherein the first end of the spring has a diameter closely approximating the shaft diameter.

34. The label application apparatus of claim 18 wherein the aperture in the plate is rectangular.

35. The label application apparatus of claim 18 wherein the aperture in the plate is circular.

36. The label application apparatus of claim 18 wherein the aperture in the plate has at least one discontinuity to prevent rotational movement of the body with respect to the shaft.

37. The label application apparatus of claim 17 wherein the at least one of a printer and an applicator comprises a printer mounted to the main housing for receiving the continuous web of label material and printing indicia thereon.

38. The label application apparatus of claim 17 wherein the at least one of a printer and an applicator comprises an applicator mounted to the main housing adjacent to the printer for receiving a printed label from the printer and applying the label to an object.