GB2301556A

GB2301556A - Improvements in printing on to tape-like material as it is dispensed

Info

Publication number: GB2301556A
Application number: GB9509724A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Franklin; Timothy James Scott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-05-13
Filing date: 1995-05-13
Publication date: 1996-12-11
Also published as: GB9509724D0

Abstract

A tape (or sheet-like material) dispenser has a tape roll 3 rotating about spindle 4 located in slot 5 and bearing against stop 6, from which tape 7 is withdrawn around print roller 8, to which print plate 9 is attached, rotating around spindle 10 located in slot 11 and bearing against ink roller 12 mounted in stationary holder 13, and around delivery roller 14 rotating about spindle 15, mounted in slot 16 arranged at an angle to print roller 8, the tape being severed at cutter 17. Pulling tape from the dispenser causes delivery roller 14 to be forced against the face of the print roller 8, thus pinching the tape between the roller and the print plate 9 on the print roller, and impressing the ink image on to the tape. In addition, pulling tape causes print roller 8 to move in contact with ink roller 12, causing ink to be transferred on to print plate 9, but not otherwise. Also, while the ink and print rollers are engaged during the action of pulling tape from the apparatus, automatic alignment of the two rollers is effected by the engagement of the flanges of the two rollers because of their dimensions and shape.

Description

APPLICATION FOR LETTERS PATENT IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING ON TO TAPE-LIKE MATERIAL AS IT IS DISPENSED INTRODUCTION This invention relates to improvements to the process of printing an image on to tape or other sheet-like material, in which the image is printed on to the material as it is dispensed from a dispenser, using an ink transfer system or similar, via rollers or the like.

The object of the invention is to enhance the quality of the image so printed by impressing the sheet-like material between a print roller, from which the image is derived, and an application or delivery roller, by the action of application or delivery, being the method of use of the dispenser.

An additional object of the invention is to control the interaction of the inking means and the printing means so as to effect the delivery of ink in a way which maximises print quality, and maintains inter-alignment of the said means.

BACKGROUND Devices for dispensing tape and sheet-like material have been commercially available for some time, and there is certain prior art relating to Patents already granted to apparatus for printing on to tape material as it is dispensed.

This invention seeks to improve on this art using a technique which is operative only as and when the dispenser is used in the manner for which it has been designed.

PREAMBLE According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for dispensing sheet-like material, in two formats a) a hand-held device for manual movement thereof relative to a surface, means for providing a supply of the material, means for withdrawing the material from the supply through a dispensing location as the apparatus is moved relative to the surface, whereby the material can be applied to the surface, and means for printing an image on the material at a location betwen the supply and the dispensing location.

b) a table-mounted device, from which sheet-like material may be drawn by hand or other means, the device being otherwise as described in a) above, except that the apparatus is not moved relative to the surface on which it is mounted, nor does it deliver tape material directly on to a surface.

In each of these formats, the invention comprises a delivery roller which is so mounted and arranged that, as and when the sheet-like material is withdrawn from the apparatus, in the manner in which it is normally used and designed to be used, the material is pinched, or sandwiched, between the print roller and the delivery roller, thus impressing the image transferred to the material on to the material, and improving image quality.

In each of these formats, there is provided a means for controlling the interaction of printing and inking means so that print quality is maximised.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention is embodied in the six attached drawings, four side elevational views and two sectional front elevational views.

In Fig.1, a table-mounted dispenser, having its base 1 mounted on to surface 2 comprises a tape roll 3, rotating about spindle 4 located in slot 5 and bearing against stop 6, from which tape or sheet-like material 7 is withdrawn around print roller 8, to which print plate 9 is attached, rotating around spindle 10 located in slot 11 and bearing against ink roller 12 mounted in stationary holder 13, and around delivery roller 14 rotating about spindle 15, mounted in slot 16 arranged at an angle to print roller 8. The sheet-like material may be severed from the remainder of the material, at a suitable point, at cutter 17.

The usual method of operation of the device is that tape or sheet-like material is pulled, for example, by hand at point A in direction B. Since there is resistance to pulling provided either by the natural action of an adhesive applied to one side of the tape material clinging to the tape roll, or by some braking means offering resistance to rotation of the tape roll about spindle 4, the tape material 7 will become taught before being withdrawn and as it is withdrawn. causing delivery roller 14 to rise in its slot 16. and. because of the angle between the slot and the face of the print roller at that point, pinch the tape 7 between print plate 9 and delivery roller 14.

This will occur every time the tape is withdrawn in the usual method of operation. The process of impressing the tape on to the print plate of the print roller occurs only when the tape is withdrawn, or when the tape is parked on to the cutter thus retaining some or all of the pinching action through tension in the tape material.

In Fig.2, a similar principle and numbering pertains to that shown in Fig.1, except that the layout of the components of the apparatus is rearranged, and the dispenser is hand-held at handle 18, being integrally attached to the body of the device 19 in which all the components are mounted and arranged. In addition, the tape is intended to be coated with an adhesive on the face which is to be applied to surface 2.

The usual method of operation of the device is that the device 19 is moved relative to surface 2, using handle 18, and applying a free end of tape material 7 firmly to surface 2 via delivery roller 14 rotating about spindle 15 mounted in slot 16.

Notwithstanding any similar resistance to pulling of the tape 7, heretofor described under Fig.l, the action of applying the tape firmly to the surface, and moving the device in direction C relative to the surface, causes delivery roller 14 to move against print plate 9 mounted on to print roller 8, thus impressing the image from the print plate as it is dispensed.

This will occur every time the tape is withdrawn in the usual method of operation. The process of impressing the tape on to the print plate of the print roller occurs only when the tape is withdrawn by the action of applying the (adhesive of the) tape firmly to the surface, via the delivery roller, and moving the device in direction C, thus causing the delivery roller to move against print roller 8 in the direction of the slot 16 in which its spindle 15 is located.

In Fig.3, a similar arrangement and numbering pertains to that shown in Fig.2, except that the slot 16 in which the delivery roller spindle 15 is mounted is angled so that when the tape material 7 is pulled, for example by hand, in direction C, regardless of whether or not it is applied to a surface 2 via the delivery roller 14, delivery roller 14 is caused to move against the print plate 9 mounted on to the print roller 8, thus impressing the image from the print plate 9 on to the tape 7 as it is dispensed.

This will occur every time the tape is withdrawn, whether or not it is applied to a surface.

In Fig.4. a similar arrangement and numbering pertains to that shown in fig.3, except that the slot 16 in which the delivery roller 14 is mounted is angled so that when the tape material is pulled in direction C. without necessarily being applied to surface 2, the net effect on the movement of spindle 15 on which the delivery roller 14 is mounted equates to zero. This is because equal tension is developed in the tape material 7 beyond the tangent (contact) point on each side of the delivery roller 14, so that a resultant force is developed on the delivery roller spindle in direction R, at right angles to slot 16.

Thus, any movement of the delivery roller 14 on spindle 15 towards the print roller S is effected solely by the action of applying the delivery roller 14 to the surface 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a sectional front elevation of the method of interaction of the inking and printing means, ie. the ink roller 12 and the print roller 8, pertaining to any of the preceding descriptions in Figs.l to 4 inclusive wherein the same numbering applies.

Fig.5 shows the arrangement in the relaxed or non-operating mode, without any force being applied to the tape material, in which the indicia 21 of print plate 9 mounted on to print roller 12 merely rest against the ink roller 8.

When tape is pulled, it exerts a force in direction D on print roller 8, which, because of rotating about spindle 10 located in slot 11, causes print roller 8 to move relative to and towards ink roller 12, held stationary in its housing 18, as shown in Fig.6. This movement continues until flanges 19 on print roller 8 come into contact with the corresponding flanges 20 of ink roller 12, with which they are self-aligned, thus arresting the movement of print roller 8 towards ink roller 12, and maintaining this condition as long as force D is applied, ie. as and when tape material is pulled from the apparatus.

Because the ink roller 12 is made of compressible, sponge-like material and is impregnated with ink, the action of pulling tape 7 causes the print plate 9 on print roller S to compress ink roller 12 as tape is pulled, and thus to cause ink to be delivered from the ink roller 12 on to print plate 9. The amount of ink roller compression so controlled is shown in Fig.6, being the difference between the face of the indicia 21 on print plate 9 and the original, uncompressed face of the ink roller 12, shown as a dotted line.

In addidtion, while the ink and print rollers are engaged during the action of pulling tape from the apparatus, automatic alignment of the two rollers is effected by the engagement of the flanges of the rollers because of their dimensions and shape.

This control achieves four purposes 1. to limit the amount of ink delivery. thus avoiding unnecessary waste; 2. to avoid delivering ink to areas of the print plate other than the face of the indicia of the plate (which is possible with a compressible ink roller material which tends to fold over the top of such indicia and deposit ink to the side of the indicia, unless some means of control is introduced). This improves image quality by printing only that image equating to the print plate indicia, without unwanted surplus ink on any other part of the indicia.

3. to avoid depositing ink on to the exposed surface of the base 22 of the print plate, where indicica are lacking, but which will be forced into contact with the tape material on to which the image is to be printed. If no means of inking control is applied, this area of print plate will be inked, and this ink transferred to the tape material as an unwanted blob, thus degrading the printed image on the tape.

4. to maintain alignment of ink and print rollers during the process of transferring ink from the ink roller to the print roller, thus ensuring that the indicia on the print plate are fully inked for transfer of ink (image) to the tape.

Claims

1. A tape (or sheet-like material) dispenser in which there are means of inking and printing on to one side of the tape whether or not this side is coated in an- way, only when the tape is withdrawn from the dispenser and at the moment the tape is so withdrawn.

2. A device described in Claim 1 in which the action of withdrawing tape controls the amount of ink deposited on to the printing means, such control being effected automatically by the action of pulling tape from the dispenser. and not otherwise.

3. A device described in Claim 2 in which iiik is deposited on the indicia of a printing plate and not elsewhere.

4. A device described in Claim 1, 9 or 3 in which the action ot withdrawing tape causes the inking means and the printing means to be self-aligning.

5. A device described in Claim 1, 2 3 or 4 in which tape is impressed on to the printing means. causing the inked image to be impressed on to the tape in addition to that effected otherwise.

(r. A device described in any preceding Claim which is statically--mounted or hand held dunny operation.

7. A device described in Claim 5 in which the action of impressing the tape is efibeted b! the simultaneous action of applying the tape to a surface or other hod! at delivery.

S. A device constructed and arranged substantially- as described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings.

9. Means of printing on to tape or sheet-like material. effective only- when the tape is drawn from a device in which the said means are mounted. and at the moment the tape is withdrawn.

I (). Means described in Claim 9 whereby the amount of ink so deposited is controlled. such control being effected automatically.

11. Means described in Claim 10 whereby ink is deposited only on the indicia ot a printing plate and not elsewhere.

I Means described in Claim 9 10 or 11 whereby self-alignment of the printing means is achieved.

13. Means described in an! Claim 9 - 1 2 wllereb! tape is impressed on to the printing means, causing the inked image to be impressed on to the tape in addition to that effected otherwise.

14. Means described in any Claim 9 - 13. which is effected statically or dynamically 15. Means described in Claim 13, whereby the action of impressing the tape is effected by the simultaneous action of applying the tape on to a surface or other body at delivery.

16. Means constructed and arranged substantially as described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings.

17. Tape or sheet-like material. coated or otherwise. printed by- a device described in any Claim 1 -8.

18. Tape or sheet-like material, coated or otherwise. printed by means described in any Claim 9 - 16.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. Apparatus for dispensing a printed sheet-like material, the apparatus comprising means enabling the apparatus to be hand-held for manual movement thereof relative to a surface, or table-top mounted for manual withdrawal of the material, means for providing a supply of the material, means for withdrawing material from the supply through a dispensing location as the apparatus is moved relative to the surface or pulled from the apparatus, as appropriate, and means for printing an image on the material at a location between the supply and the dispensing location.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the printing means is automatically operated by movement of the material during withdrawal from the supply.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the printing means comprises a freely rotatable roller having image-producing means on the periphery thereof.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the printing roller is operatively associated with an ink application roller, whereby rotation of the ink application roller effected by movement of the material over part of the periphery thereof as the material is withdrawn from the supply, effects rotation of the printing roller and thereby the application of ink to the image-producing means.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the ink application roller is rotatable through an ink supply.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the ink supply is provided as a removable cassette.

7. Apparatus according to any of Claims 4 to 6, wherein a material application roller is provided over which the printed material passes to the dispensing location.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein the material application roller is mounted on a pivotal arm, whereby engagement of the material application roller with the surface effects movement of the material application roller, or a separate impression roller, into engagement with the printing roller, and thereby engagement of the latter with the ink application roller.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein a biassing force is applied to the pivotal arm to bias the material application roller and/or impresion roller towards the printing roller.

10. Apparatus according to any of Claims 4 to 7, wherein the ink application roller is biased into engagement with the printing roller.

11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the material supply-providing means comprises a mounting for a tubular roll of the material.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, wherein means are provided for biassing the roll into engagement with a guide roller.

13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the relative positions of the means for providing the material supply, the printing means, and the dispensing location are such that a material sheet, with an adhesive layer on an inner side thereof relative to the supply, can be so dispensed that the image is printed on to the adhesive layer before the latter is applied to the surface.

14. Apparatus for dispensing a printed sheet-like material, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A method of applying a printed image to a surface, the method comprising a sheet-like material from a hand-held or table-mounted apparatus, which can be manually moved relative to the surface or remain static, the material being withdrawn from a supply on movement of the apparatus or by hand, and an image being printed on the material between the supply and dispensing location.

16. A method according to Claim 14, wherein the sheet-like material has an adhesive layer on one side thereof and the image is printed on the adhesive layer, whereafter the material is applied to the surface with the adhesive layer in contact therewith.

17. A method according to Claim 15, wherein the material is transparent, whereby the image is visible on the surface through the material.

18. A method according to Claim 14, wherein the image, or part thereof, remains on the surface when the material is subsequently removed therefrom.

19 A method according to any of Claims 14 to 16, wherein the image is printed on the material using an ink which enables the image subsequently to be read only under a light of predetermined wavelength.

20. A method of applying a sheet-like material to a surface, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.