GB1586206A

GB1586206A - Ink roller assembly

Info

Publication number: GB1586206A
Application number: GB3913677A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Sato Kenkyusho KK
Current assignee: Sato Kenkyusho KK
Priority date: 1976-09-30
Filing date: 1977-09-20
Publication date: 1981-03-18
Also published as: NL7710545A; DE2744173A1; JPS5815179Y2; FR2366133A1; JPS5350000U

Description

(54) INK ROLLER ASSEMBLY (71) We, KABUSHIKI KAISHA SATO KENKYUSHO, a Japanese Company of 21-23, 3-chome, Kamikitazawa, Setagayaku, Tokyo, Japan, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to label printing and applying machines, and more particularly to ink roller assemblies for use with label printing and applying machines, in which the ink roller assembly is accommodated or housed.

In the conventional ink roller assembly of such kind, a knob member, in which a coil spring is mounted, is removably attached to a rocking lever which in turn is attached to the leading end of an ink supply device.

Although the knob member protrudes from the leading end of the ink roller assembly, there arises no trouble if it is used with a label printing and applying machine of the so-called "protruding type", in which the ink roller protrudes from the machine front after it turns on the type surface of a printing device to supply the same with ink.

In case, however, the knob member of that type is used with a label printing and applying machine of the so-called "accommodated or housed type", in which the ink roller is moved back and forth but within the space defined by the machine itself, the knob member abuts against the platen at the bottom of the machine so that it cannot move inwardly of that space.

According to this invention there is provided an ink roller assembly for use in a label printing and applying machine including a printing device having a type surface, an ink roller, an ink supply device for turning said ink roller on the type surface of said printing device to supply the same with ink, and a platen, onto which a label is fed, said printing device being made movable toward said platen to bring its type surface into abutment engagement with the label on the platen so as to print the same information on said type surface thereby to allow the printed label to be applied to an article, said ink roller being movable back and forth but within the space defined by said machine itself, the ink roller assembly comprising; an ink roller frame holding said ink roller in a rotatable manner; attaching means for removably attaching said ink roller frame to a support member which is for attachment to the leading end of an ink supply device; a pair of levers hinged to said ink roller frame so that they may be raised, when said ink roller frame is to be attached to and removed from said support member, and so that they may be brought down when the ink supply operation is to be accomplished; and locking means for locking said levers in their lowered positions.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the general construction of a label printing and applying machine equipped with an ink roller assembly according to the present invention with the side wall of this side being removed; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing both the ink roller assembly and a support member of the link mechanism of the ink supply device; Fig. 3 is a partially cut-away top plan view showing the structure, in which the ink roller assembly is assembled with the support member; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV - IV of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation showing the operating conditions of the ink supply device, to which the ink roller assembly is attached, and the printing operations of the label printing and supplying machine, in which the ink roller assembly is accommodated.

An ink roller assembly A according to the present invention is attached, when used, to an ink supply device B of housed type, which is equipped with a link mechanism and which is mounted in such a label print ing and applying machine as is shown in Fig.

1.

In the general construction of the label printing and applying machine, a grip 1 - is made integral with a pair of side walls 8. To this grip 1 is substantially juxtaposed a hand lever lever 2 which is made swingable, when manually squeezed, about a pivot shaft 3 but is biased apart from the grip 1 by the action of a return spring 7.

The hand lever 2 thus constructed has its front portion bifurcated to form a pair of yokes 4, to the leading front ends of which is fixed a printing device 5 having its bottom formed with one or more type surfaces 6. A link mechanism for the ink supplying device g is of paired multi-articulated type and has three fixed support points, i.e. two pivot shafts 30 and 3f pivotally supported in the yokes 4 and a pivot shaft 32 mounted in the side walls 8.

To the leading ends of the link mechanism thus constructed, there is attached a support member 20, to which is removably attached an ink roller frame 10 of the ink roller assembly A.

As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, more specifically, the ink roller frame 10 is formed into a U-shaped cross-section, in which a main ink roller 16 of a larger diameter and an auxiliary ink roller 18 of a smaller diameter, both being impregnated with ink, are rotatably mounted such that their respective roller shafts 17 and 19 are supported at the side walls 11d of the ink roller frame 10. These side walls 1 lid are formed with engagement grooves 12 which are made to extend in the longitudinal direction thereof. These engagement grooves 12 are made engageable with corresponding engagement projections 21 formed in both side walls of the support member 20, which is also formed into a U-shaped cross-section.

As best seen from Fig. 3, a pair of openable levers 13 are attached to a bridge wall 11a of the ink roller frame 10. These levers 13 are formed at their feet with eccentric portions 13a which are shaped to rise in their folding direction. These eccentric foot portions 13a are made openable or foldable by means of pivot pins 14, which are mounted to a pair of attachment portions 15 protruding from the bridge wall 1 1a of the ink roller frame 10. Moreover, the eccentric foot portions 13a are made engageable with a recess 1 1b, which is formed in the bridge wall 1 la of the ink roller frame 10 and which in turn is formed with retaining ends llc.

When it is intended to attach and remove the ink roller assembly A thus constructed to and from the link mechanism of the ink supply device B, the paired levers 13 are raised into engagement to form a handle, as shown in Fig. 2, so that they may be manually pinched for the desired handling. After the attachment is completed, the paired levers 13 are brought down in the respective directions or the arrows, as shown in Fig. 3.

During these falling operations, the eccentric foot portions 13a are turned about their respective pivot pins 14 over the retaining ends 1 1c of the frame 10 until they are snapped into engagement with the recess llb. Thus, the respective levers 13 can be locked in their lowered flat positions.

At both side walls of the support member 20, on the other hand, there are formed a pair of pivot pins 22 which are pivotally supported connecting links 26 of the link mechanism of Fig. 1, a pair of guide members 23 which are brought into abutment engagement with rollers (not shown) located at the inside of guide links 43, and a pair of retaining holes 25 for springs 24 which are mounted on the respective pivot pins 22.

Description will now be made of the operation of the ink supply device B (or its link mechanism). In case the ink roller assembly A is located in a substantially upright position and in a stationary condition at a front portion of the label printing and applying machine, as shown in Fig. 1, the hand lever 2 is gripped or squeezed to its full stroke. Then, the ink roller assembly A passes over aplaten 33 to apply ink to the type surfaces 6 of the printing device 5 until it is inverted and accommodated in the inside of the label printing and applying machine, as seen from Fig. 5. In this meanwhile, the type surfaces 6 of the printing device 5 are brought into abutment engagement with the platen 33 to print a coming label 27 with the desired information.

When, more specifically, the hand lever 2 is gripped slightly (e.g. by an angle of 3 degrees), the yokes 4 are turned correspondingly slightly in fhe counterclockwise (or downward) direction, as viewed in Fig.

1, about the pivot shaft 3.

As a result, the multi-articulated link mechanism of the ink supply device B attached to those yokes 4 is dislocated such that lifting portions 37 of its rocking links 36 are brought into abutment engagement with abutments pins 35 of opening links 34 of the same. Since, more specifically, the pivot shafts 30 and 31 supported pivotally on the yokes 4 are moved downward, a pair of operating links 38 supported pivotally on the side walls 8 of the label printing and applying machine are moved rightwardly at their movable pins 39 and substantially upward at their movable pins 40. At the same time, the rocking links are turned counterclockwise about the pivot shafts 31.

More specifically, the rocking links 36 are made to slide rightwardly by guiding the pivot pins 22 for the support member 20 and the ink roller frame 10 in horizontal slots 44 of guide links 43 while keeping the pivot pins 22 pushed to the upper ends of vertical slots 41 of the rocking links 36 by the action of the springs 24. During this sliding operation, the main ink roller 16 turns on the type surfaces 6 of the printing device 5, while being elastically held, thus effecting the desired ink application.

Simultaneously with the ink application of the first stage, the rocking links 36 are turned counterclockwise about the pivot shafts 31. As a result, the lifting portions 37 at the ends of the rocking links 36 are brough into abutment against the abutment pins 35 of the opening links 34 which are in engagement with other opening links 45.

Then, the abutment impact of the lifting portions 37 upon the abutment pins 35 overcomes the actions of springs 46, thus further rocking the opening links 34 in the clockwise direction. As a result, the retaining projections of the opening links 34 are disengaged from the other opening links 45 so that both links 34 and 45 are brought into their released (or lifted) conditions. In this meanwhile, more specifically, the opening links 34 are rocked clockwise about the pivot shafts 30 while the other opening links 45 counterclockwise about movable pins 47.

In accordance with these sequential operations, the auxiliary ink roller 18 applies ink to the type surfaces 6. In this meanwhile, the ink roller assembly A with the ink rollers 16 and 18 passes over the platen 33 which is located below the printing device 5.

Upon completion of the ink application of the second stage, the pivot pins 22 of the ink rollers are in abutment engagement with the rearmost ends of the horizontal slots 44 of the guide links 43.

If, under this condition, the hand lever 2 is further gripped, the guide links 43 and the rocking links 36 are rocked counterclockwise and the respective movable pins are moved until the ink rollers are accommodated or housed in a center portion of the space defined by the side walls 8. More specifically, the ink roller frame 10 with the two ink rollers 16 and 18 is stored in its inverted position inside the label printing and applying machine at the back of the printing device 5. Then, regulating projections 48 formed on the opening links 34 abut against dislocated connecting links 49 to stop the motions of the respective links. Incidentally, the link mechanism thus dislocated restores its stationary condition of Fig. 1 upon release of the hand lever 2 after the printing device 5 has accomplished its printing operation upon the label 27 delivered onto the platen 33.

As has been described hereinbefore, the ink roller assembly is equipped with an ink roller frame which is removably attached to such a support member as is attached to the leading end of the link mechanism of an ink supply device. A pair of operable levers formed with a locking device are hinged to the ink roller frame such that they can be manually raised in a feasible manner when that assembly is to be attached to or removed from the link mechanism.

When it is intended to accomplish the ink supply operation, on the other hand, the levers are locked in their lowered positions even during the turning motions of the ink supply rollers. Thus, the ink supply can be attained without inviting the abutment of the ink roller frame against the platen which is disposed below the printing device.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An ink roller assembly for use in a label printing and applying machine including a printing device having a type surface, an ink roller, an ink supply device for turning said ink roller on the type surface of said printing device to supply the same with ink, and a platen, onto which a label is fed, said printing device being made movable toward said platen to bring its type surface into abutment engagement with the label on the platen so as to print the same with the information on said type surface thereby to allow the printed label to be applied to an article, said ink roller being movable back and forth but within the space defined by said machine itself, the ink roller assembly comprising: an ink roller frame holding said ink roller in a rotatable manner; attaching means for removably attaching said ink roller frame to a support member which is for attachment to the leading end of an ink supply device; a pair of levers hinged to said ink roller frame so that they may be raised, when said ink roller frame is to be attached to and removed from said support member, and so that they may be brought down when the ink supply operation is to be accomplished; and locking means for locking said levers in their lowered positions.

2. An ink roller assembly according to claim 1, wherein said ink roller frame has a U-shaped cross-section and said support member has a corresponding U-shaped cross-section.

3. An ink roller assembly according to claim 2, wherein said attaching means comprises a pair of engagement grooves respectively formed in side walls of said ink roller frame, and a pair of corresponding engagement projections formed on side walls of said support member and sized and positioned to be fitted in the engagement grooves of said ink roller frame.

4. An ink roller assembly according to claim 2, wherein said locking means comprises a recess formed in a bridge wall of

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. pivot pins 22 for the support member 20 and the ink roller frame 10 in horizontal slots 44 of guide links 43 while keeping the pivot pins 22 pushed to the upper ends of vertical slots 41 of the rocking links 36 by the action of the springs 24. During this sliding operation, the main ink roller 16 turns on the type surfaces 6 of the printing device 5, while being elastically held, thus effecting the desired ink application. Simultaneously with the ink application of the first stage, the rocking links 36 are turned counterclockwise about the pivot shafts 31. As a result, the lifting portions 37 at the ends of the rocking links 36 are brough into abutment against the abutment pins 35 of the opening links 34 which are in engagement with other opening links 45. Then, the abutment impact of the lifting portions 37 upon the abutment pins 35 overcomes the actions of springs 46, thus further rocking the opening links 34 in the clockwise direction. As a result, the retaining projections of the opening links 34 are disengaged from the other opening links 45 so that both links 34 and 45 are brought into their released (or lifted) conditions. In this meanwhile, more specifically, the opening links 34 are rocked clockwise about the pivot shafts 30 while the other opening links 45 counterclockwise about movable pins 47. In accordance with these sequential operations, the auxiliary ink roller 18 applies ink to the type surfaces 6. In this meanwhile, the ink roller assembly A with the ink rollers 16 and 18 passes over the platen 33 which is located below the printing device 5. Upon completion of the ink application of the second stage, the pivot pins 22 of the ink rollers are in abutment engagement with the rearmost ends of the horizontal slots 44 of the guide links 43. If, under this condition, the hand lever 2 is further gripped, the guide links 43 and the rocking links 36 are rocked counterclockwise and the respective movable pins are moved until the ink rollers are accommodated or housed in a center portion of the space defined by the side walls 8. More specifically, the ink roller frame 10 with the two ink rollers 16 and 18 is stored in its inverted position inside the label printing and applying machine at the back of the printing device 5. Then, regulating projections 48 formed on the opening links 34 abut against dislocated connecting links 49 to stop the motions of the respective links. Incidentally, the link mechanism thus dislocated restores its stationary condition of Fig. 1 upon release of the hand lever 2 after the printing device 5 has accomplished its printing operation upon the label 27 delivered onto the platen 33. As has been described hereinbefore, the ink roller assembly is equipped with an ink roller frame which is removably attached to such a support member as is attached to the leading end of the link mechanism of an ink supply device. A pair of operable levers formed with a locking device are hinged to the ink roller frame such that they can be manually raised in a feasible manner when that assembly is to be attached to or removed from the link mechanism. When it is intended to accomplish the ink supply operation, on the other hand, the levers are locked in their lowered positions even during the turning motions of the ink supply rollers. Thus, the ink supply can be attained without inviting the abutment of the ink roller frame against the platen which is disposed below the printing device. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An ink roller assembly for use in a label printing and applying machine including a printing device having a type surface, an ink roller, an ink supply device for turning said ink roller on the type surface of said printing device to supply the same with ink, and a platen, onto which a label is fed, said printing device being made movable toward said platen to bring its type surface into abutment engagement with the label on the platen so as to print the same with the information on said type surface thereby to allow the printed label to be applied to an article, said ink roller being movable back and forth but within the space defined by said machine itself, the ink roller assembly comprising: an ink roller frame holding said ink roller in a rotatable manner; attaching means for removably attaching said ink roller frame to a support member which is for attachment to the leading end of an ink supply device; a pair of levers hinged to said ink roller frame so that they may be raised, when said ink roller frame is to be attached to and removed from said support member, and so that they may be brought down when the ink supply operation is to be accomplished; and locking means for locking said levers in their lowered positions.

said ink roller frame, and a pair of rise portions formed on the levers and sized and positioned to be snapped into said recess when said levers are brought down.

5. An ink roller assembly according to claim 1, further comprising guide means for guiding said support members when the latter is to be attached to the leading end of said ink supply device.

6. An ink roller assembly according to claim 5, wherein said guide means comprises a pair of guide members mounted to the both sides of said support member.

7. An ink roller assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying draw ings.

8. A label printing and applying machine including a printing device having a type surface, an ink roller, an ink supply device for turning said ink roller on the type surface of said printing device to supply the same with ink, and a platen, onto which a label is fed, said printing device being movable toward said platen to bring its type surface into abutment engagement with the label on the platen so as to print the same with the information on said type surface thereby to allow the printed label to be applied to an article, said ink roller being movable back and forth but within the space defined by the machine itself and including an ink roller assembly as claimed in any preceding claims.