Abstract:
The present invention provides a reusable and collapsible take-up core for a printer. The core is generally a hollow member having an interior bored mated to fit over a spindle. The core comprises a wall having an interior and exterior surface, at least one axially extending ridge formed on the interior surface of the wall of the core, and an axially extending relief groove formed on the exterior surface of the wall of the core. The take-up core of the present invention provides a more efficient, less time consuming, less messy method and device for unrolling the used or spent material off the core. A method for discarding spent material (i.e. release liner) from a core of a take-up assembly of a printer is also provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/375,574 filed Aug. 20, 2010, which is incorporated by herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present inventive subject matter relates generally to the art of electronic printers. Particular relevance is found in connection with table top printers such as thermal label printers, in which a release liner, ink ribbon or other material is to be collected post processing and removed and accordingly the present specification makes specific reference thereto. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Printers are known in the art to include spindles to hold rolls of web material that are wound on hollow tubular cores that are removably received on the spindles. For example, a roll of ink ribbon may be supplied on such a core which is mated to and removably held on its particular spindle. Similarly, a second core which is mated to and removably held on its particular spindle may be provided to take up the used ink ribbon by winding the used ribbon on the core. 
         [0004]    A spindle may also be provided to supply print media from a roll of media wound on a mated core received over and removably held on the spindle. For example, the print media may be a roll of label stock or other suitable print media wound on the media supply core. Commonly, the label stock may include a series of individual labels or record members releasably adhered via a pressure sensitive adhesive or the like to a release liner or similar continuous web of material. In general, the print media is unwound from the supply core and routed or passed between a platen roller and a printhead, e.g., a thermal printhead, which selectively marks the media. Thereafter, the label is dispensed from the printer or otherwise removed from the liner. As successive labels are dispensed from the printer, an amount of spent liner (i.e., the portion of the liner with the labels removed) accumulates. Optionally, the spent liner may be taken up and/or wound on a second liner take-up core removably held on a mated spindle. 
         [0005]    Printers employing various spindles and cores are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Document Nos. 5,833,377; 5,947,618; 7,350,462; 7,350,992 and 2009/072073, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
         [0006]    Typically, the core of the printer that takes-up spent or used material will have a limited capacity for receiving that material, be it spent liner or used ink ribbon or the like. Accordingly, when a take-up core is full, it is removed from its spindle. To continue operation of the printer, the removed take-up core has to be replaced on its spindle. In one option, the removed take-up core may be disposed of or thrown away along with the spent or used material wound thereon and an entirely new take-up core can be used to replace it. This option, however, can be wasteful. 
         [0007]    Alternately, the used or spent material wound or otherwise accumulated on the take-up core can be removed therefrom and the same take-up core, which is now empty, can be returned to its spindle. While this later approach may be desirable insomuch as the core can be reused, it presents some challenges. In particular, removing the used or spent material from the core can be burdensome. On one hand, when the material is tightly wound on the core it may be difficult to axially slide or otherwise remove the roll of material off an end of the core. On the other hand, with such tightly wound material, it can be time consuming, messy and/or otherwise undesirable to unroll the used or spent material off the core. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, a new and/or improved reusable take-up core is disclosed which addresses the above-referenced problem(s) and/or others. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The embodiments of the present invention described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present invention. 
         [0010]    In accordance with one embodiment, a reusable take-up core as essentially described herein is provided. More specifically, the present invention provides a reusable and collapsible core for a printer. The core includes a hollow member that has a bore which is suited for a spindle. The core has a wall with an interior and an exterior surface, an extending ridge formed on the interior surface of the wall and an extending relief groove formed on the exterior surface of the wall of the core. 
         [0011]    The present invention also discloses a method of discarding spent material from a core of a take-up assembly of a printer. The method includes the steps of initially separating the spent material wound on the core from any remaining portion of the material in a printer. Then, the core is taken off of a spindle, and a force is applied to a portion of the circumference of the core, so as to be able to remove the spent material from the core. Finally, the force on the core is released, and the core can be replaced back on the spindle. 
         [0012]    Numerous advantages and benefits of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification. 
         [0013]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the detailed description of the various embodiments and specific examples, while indicating preferred and other embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    These, as well as other objects and advantages of this invention, will be more completely understood and appreciated by referring to the following more detailed description of the presently preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic illustration of a thermal label printer in accordance with aspects of the present inventive subject matter; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  shows the printer of  FIG. 1  having an outer housing opened to reveal internal components of the printer, including a spent liner take-up assembly mounted in cantilevered fashion to a frame of the printer; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an abstract side view of the printer illustrated in  FIG. 1 , showing a supply roll of print media and a suitable routing of the print media through the printer; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic illustration showing an exploded view of the spent liner take-up assembly illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic illustration showing an unexploded longitudinal cross section view of the spent liner take-up assembly illustrated in  FIG. 4  taken along section line A-A; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic illustration showing an unexploded axial cross section view of the spent liner take-up assembly illustrated in  FIG. 4  taken along section line B-B; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic illustration showing an axial cross section view of the of the spent liner take-up core illustrated in  FIG. 4  taken along section line B-B; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  illustrates a method for discarding spent material from a core of a take-up assembly of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    The apparatuses and methods disclosed in this document are described in detail by way of examples and with reference to the FIGURES. Unless otherwise specified, like numbers in the FIGURES indicate references to the same, similar, or corresponding elements throughout the FIGURES. It will be appreciated that modifications to disclosed and described examples, arrangements, configurations, components, elements, apparatuses, methods, materials, etc. can be made and may be desired for a specific application. In this disclosure, any identification of specific shapes, materials, techniques, arrangements, etc. are either related to a specific example presented or are merely a general description of such a shape, material, technique, arrangement, etc. Identifications of specific details or examples are not intended to be, and should not be, construed as mandatory or limiting unless specifically designated as such. Selected examples of apparatuses and methods are hereinafter disclosed and described in detail with reference made to FIGURES. For clarity and simplicity, the present specification shall refer to structural and/or functional elements, relevant standards and/or protocols, and other components that are commonly known in the art without further detailed explanation as to their configuration or operation except to the extent they have been modified or altered in accordance with and/or to accommodate the preferred embodiment(s) presented herein. 
         [0024]    With reference now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a thermal label printer generally indicated at  40  having a two piece housing  41  pivotally joined together at hinges  43 . The printer  40  also includes a frame  44  to which the housing  41  is mounted. A roll “R” of label stock or other suitable print media, e.g. paper, film, foil, etc. (see  FIG. 3 ) is held by the media supply roll mounting assembly  50  that is mounted on a vertical wall  71  of the frame  44 . For example, the label or printable stock may include a series of individual labels or record members (abstractly depicted in  FIG. 3  by the dotted line identified with the reference character RM) or may simply be a continuous supply of material with no delineations between areas to be printed, releasably adhered via a pressure sensitive adhesive or the like to a continuous release liner (abstractly depicted in  FIG. 3  by the dashed line identified with the reference character L) or other similar continuous web of material. In any event, the print media is supplied from the roll R held by the media supply roll mounting assembly  50  to a printhead assembly  70  for marking by a thermal printhead included in the assembly  70 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  also shows: an ink ribbon supply spindle  53  for holding a roll of thermal ink ribbon (not shown) from which the ribbon is supplied to the thermal printhead of the printhead assembly  70 ; and, an ink ribbon take-up spindle  55  for receiving and holding a roll of the spent or used ink ribbon.  FIG. 2  further shows a selectively pivotable mounting member  56  to which the spindles  53  and  55  are mounted in a cantilevered fashion. Further, the printhead assembly  70  also includes the thermal printhead which is mounted in a cantilevered fashion to the mounting member  56 . As shown, the selectively pivotable mounting member  56  is positioned upright or vertically, i.e., in the operating position. To facilitate loading and/or threading of the print media and/or ink ribbon between the thermal printhead of the assembly  70  and a cooperating platen roller rotatably mounted to a bracket  80  secured to a floor  72  of the frame  44 , the mounting member  56  is selectively tilted back from the upright position thereby raising the cantilevered printhead assembly  70  away from the platen roller. 
         [0026]    Suitably, the print media is routed and/or guided along a path from the roll R carried by the media supply roll mounting assembly  50  to the printhead assembly  70  where it passes (along with an optional ink ribbon from the ink ribbon supply spindle  53 ) between the thermal printhead of the printhead assembly  70  and the cooperating platen roller. As can be appreciated, the printhead selectively marks the media (e.g., the label or record member “RM” carried on the liner “L”), and thereafter, the printed label or record member RM is dispensed from the printer  40  or otherwise removed from the liner L. As successive labels or record members RM are dispensed from the printer  40 , an amount of spent liner L (i.e., the portion of the liner L with the labels or record members RM removed) accumulates. As shown, the spent liner L is taken up by a spent liner take-up assembly  90  mounted in cantilevered fashion to the vertical wall  71  of the frame  44 . 
         [0027]    With added reference now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the liner take-up assembly  90  includes a spent liner take-up spindle  92  and a spent liner take-up core  94 . In general, the core  94  is a hollow tubular or cylindrical member having an interior bore mated to fit over the spindle  92  so as to be removably held thereby. The core  94  is selectively mounted on the spindle  92  by axially sliding the core  94  over the free end  92   a  of the spindle  92  and may be selectively removed from the spindle  92  by axially sliding the core  94  off of the free end  92   a  of the spindle  92 . 
         [0028]    As shown, in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the liner take-up assembly  90  further includes an electric motor  100  which rotatably drives the spindle  92  about its central axis via cooperative gears  102  and  104  operatively coupled to a shaft  106  axially extending through the spindle  92 . At least one flattened surface on the end  106   a  of the shaft  106  cooperates with a mated inner surface formed on the spindle  92  so that the spindle  92  rotates in unison with the shaft  106 . The other end  106   b  of the shaft  106  extends through a spacing ring  107  and a hub of the gear  104  to be received in a pair of bearings  108  fitted in a bearing housing  110  which is secured to a bracket  112 , e.g., by one or more screws  110 ′. At the first end  106   a  of the shaft  106 , a first retaining clip or e-ring  114  secured to the shaft  106  retains the spindle  92  on the shaft  106 . At the second end  106   b  of the shaft  106 , a second retaining clip or e-ring  116  secured to the shaft  106  retains the shaft  106  within the bearings  108 . 
         [0029]    As shown, the gear  102  is rotatably retained on a post  112   a  extending from the bracket  112  by a retaining clip  118 . On an opposite side, the motor  100  is also secured to the bracket  112 , e.g., by one or more screws  100 ′. To protect the gear train and inner works of the liner take-up assembly  90 , a housing  120  which covers the gear train and inner works is also secured to the bracket  112 , e.g., via one or more screws  120 ′ and corresponding lockwashers  120 ″. Suitably, the liner take-up assembly  90  is mounted to the vertical wall  71  of the frame  44  via one or more screws  112 ′ and corresponding standoffs  112 ″ that secure the bracket  112  to the vertical wall  71  of the frame  44 . In operation, the motor  100  selectively rotates the gear  102  about the post  112   a , which in turn rotates the gear  104  having the shaft  106  received in its hub. That in turn rotates the shaft  106  about its axis within the bearings  108 , which in turn rotates the spindle  92  retained on the shaft  106 , which in turn rotates the core  94  held on the spindle  92 , which in turn winds the spent liner L onto the core  94 . 
         [0030]    With additional reference now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an inner surface  202  of the core  94  is provided with one or more axially extending ridges  204  that protrude radially inward from the wall of the core  94 , and the spindle  92  has a plurality of axially extending ribs  206  that protrude radially outward. Optionally, as shown, at least one pair of these ribs  206  forms an axially extending channel  208  therebetween. Suitably, the ridges  204 , ribs  206  and/or channels  208  extend the entire or nearly the entire axial length of the core  94  and/or spindle  92 . In any event, one or more of the ridges  204  formed on an interior of the core  94  cooperate with one or more ribs  206  and/or channels  208  formed on an exterior of the spindle  92  so that, when the core  94  is installed on the spindle  92 , the core  94  will rotate in unison with the spindle  92 . In the illustrated embodiment, at least one ridge  204  is received in the channel  208  so that the core  94  is not free to rotate independently about the spindle  92  but rather rotates in unison with the spindle  92 . 
         [0031]    Suitably, the core  94  is formed of a suitably deformable resilient plastic or other sufficiently deformable resilient material. Accordingly, when removed from the spindle  92 , the core  94  may be selectively collapsed or deformed axially, i.e., the outer circumference or periphery  210  may be selectively reduced. Consequently, when collapsed, accumulated liner wound around the outer circumference or periphery  210  of the core  94  can be easily slid in an axial direction off an end of the core  94 . To accommodate the collapsing of the core  94 , a gap or slot  212  is formed in the wall of the core  94 . As shown, the gap or slot  212  extends entirely through the wall of the core  94  and runs the entire axial length of the core  94  (see also  FIG. 4 ). When the core  94  is squeezed or deformed about its outer circumference or periphery  210  (e.g., by the squeezing grasp of a user or other application of radially inward force), the wall of the core  94  deforms so that the gap or slot  212  is substantially closed or reduced thereby reducing the outer circumference or periphery  210  of the core  94 . Suitably, the axial length of the core  94  is longer than the width of the liner or other material wound thereon so that a user may indeed selectively grasp and/or squeeze an exposed portion or end of the core  94 . As the core  94  is formed from sufficiently resilient plastic or other suitably resilient material, upon release or cessation of the radially inward application of force, the core  94  returns to its otherwise normal state, i.e., the core  94  springs back so that the outer circumference and/or periphery  210  is essentially restored to its usual dimension. 
         [0032]    In the illustrated embodiment, to enhance the flexibility of the core  94 , one or more axially extending relief grooves  214  are formed on an exterior surface of the wall of the core  94 . Suitably, the grooves  214  extend the entire or nearly the entire axial length of the core  94 . The grooves  214  result in a corresponding thinning of the wall of the core  94  adjacent the location of the grooves  214  and consequently the wall of the core  94  is relatively more flexible at these points as compared to thicker portions of the core wall. That is, as the gap  212  is collapsed, grooves  214  expand so as to allow the material of the core collapse substantially equally around the diameter of the core. The slot or gap  212  and grooves  214  are disposed substantially equally around the circumference of the core such that there is roughly and equal space between each of the gap and grooves. 
         [0033]    As can be appreciated, when the spent liner or other material is being wound onto the core  94 , depending upon how tightly the material is being wound, the core  94  may experience a radially inward application of force which would otherwise tend to collapse the core  94 . However, as shown in  FIG. 6 , when the core  94  is on the spindle  92 , the ribs  206  of the spindle  92  contact and/or about the inner surface  202  of the core  94 . Suitably, the ribs  206  are sufficiently strong, stiff and/or rigid enough to counter the aforementioned force and protect against the unwanted collapse of the core  94  under these circumstances. 
         [0034]    Turning now to the operation of the device in one exemplary embodiment, an empty core  94  is initially placed on the spindle  92  so that the gap or slot  212  aligns with an axially extending trench or trough  216  formed in the spindle  92 . Suitably, the trough  216  extends the entire or nearly the entire axial length of the spindle  92 . Optionally, the core  94  will only properly slide onto and/or fit over the mated spindle  92  in one particular relative rotational orientation, i.e., so that the gap or slot  212  does indeed align with the trough  216 . For example, optionally, the ridges  204  on the inner surface  202  of the core  94  and the ribs  206  and channels  208  on an exterior of the spindle  92  are located circumferentially about their respective parts to ensure the proper orientation. For example, the core  94  and spindle  92  may be formed so that the respective ridges  204  and the ribs  206  and channels  208  only properly align relative to one another when the core  94  and spindle  92  have the correct rotational orientation relative to one another. Alternately, the width or other dimension of one particular ridge  204  may be greater than the corresponding width or other dimension of the others ridges  204  and only one corresponding channel  208  may be wide or otherwise large enough to receive the wider or otherwise larger ridge  204 . 
         [0035]    In any event, as shown in  FIG. 3 , to start the liner on the take-up assembly  90 , a free end and/or leading edge of the spent liner L is initially inserted through the gap or slot  212  of an empty core  94  and into the trough  216  of the spindle  92  on which the empty core  94  is carried. In this manner, the free end and/or leading edge of the spent liner L is initially held and/or retained by the take-up assembly  90 . As successive labels or record members RM are dispensed from the printer  40  and additional spent liner L accumulates, the motor  100  is energized to rotate the spindle  92  and hence the core  94  in the direction indicated by the arrow  220  (see also  FIG. 7 ). Accordingly, the spent liner L is wound around an outer circumference or periphery  210  of the core  94 . 
         [0036]    The gap or slot  212  formed in the wall of the core  94 , is angled with respect to a radial direction extending from a central longitudinal axis of the core  94  (i.e., its axis of rotation). In particular, opposing surfaces  212 ′ and  212 ″ define the gap or slot  212  therebetween. These surfaces  212 ′ and  212 ″ are essentially parallel to one another. With respect to a radius drawn from the central longitudinal axis of the core  94  in a plane normal to that axis, each surface  212 ′ and  212 ″ obliquely intersects that radius. In particular, the surfaces  212 ′ and  212 ″ are slanted or inclined from the radius in or toward the direction of rotation of the core  94 . In other words, the gap or slot  212  is formed so that a first opening is defined at the outer circumference or periphery  210  of the core  94  between the surfaces  212 ′ and  212 ″ and a second opening is defined at the inner surface  202  of the core  94  between the surfaces  212 ′ and  212 ″. Since the gap or slot  212  is made at an angle with respect to the radial direction, the aforementioned first and second openings are off-set from one another with respect to the direction of rotation of the core  94  (i.e., indicated by the arrow  220 ). In particular, with respect to the direction of rotation of the core  94 , the first opening (at the outer circumference or periphery  210 ) leads or is ahead or in front of the second opening (at the inner surface  202 ). Suitably, by angling the gap or slot  212  in this manner, the initial hold or grip on the liner L may be beneficially strengthened. 
         [0037]    Optionally, a sensor or suitable detector or other means is used to measure or monitor the length or other amount of liner or other material which is wound onto the core  94 . In one suitable embodiment, the back or counter EMF (electromotive force) experienced by the motor  100  is detected and/or monitored, which in turn is representative of or can otherwise be ultimately related to the amount of material wound on the core  94 . In any event, when the core  94  has reached its capacity or the length or amount of spent liner L wound around the core  94  otherwise meets or exceeds a threshold limit, operation of the printer  40  is suitably halted or suspended. Suitably, a user is alerted or notified of the condition by an appropriate output on a user interface  300  of the printer  40 , e.g., via lighting or display of an icon or error message or other visual signal, providing an audible signal, etc. Accordingly, the user is prompted to discard or otherwise remove the spent liner from the core  94 . In practice, the user may selectively discard the accumulated spent liner as follows. For example, the user would as illustrated in  FIG. 8 :
       provide a printer having a core, the core having an outer circumference and includes a gap and a groove each extending along the outer circumference of the core and the gap extends from an outer surface of the core to an inner surface of the core ( 400 );   cut, tear or otherwise separate the spent liner L wound on the core  94  from any remaining portion of the liner L in the printer  40  ( 401 );   take the full core  94  off the spindle  92  by sliding it axially therefrom ( 410 );   squeeze or otherwise apply radially inward force to an exposed portion of the outer circumference or periphery  210  of the core  94 , thereby reducing the outer circumference or periphery  210  of the core ( 420 ). This is accomplished by the gap  212  compressing and the groove  214  expanding thereby allowing the circumference of the core to reduce in diameter;   remove the spent liner from the core  94  by sliding it axially off an end of the core  94 , and releasing or otherwise ceasing to apply the radially inward force to the core  94 , thereby allowing the core  94  to resume its natural or at rest dimensions ( 430 );   replace the now empty core  94  back on the spindle  92  ( 440 );   re-engage the liner L with take-up assembly  90  by taking the free end or leading edge of the liner and placing it through the gap or slot  212  into the trough  216 ; and then,   resume operation of the printer  40 .       
 
         [0046]    Suitably, the core  94  and spindle  92  disclosed in the present application are optionally formed and/or interact with one another in the same or similar fashion and/or include the same or similar features as the core and spindle combination described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,833,377 and 5,947,618, except as otherwise noted or described herein. Moreover, while the present core  94  and spindle  92  are disclosed herein as a take-up mechanism for receiving spent liner material, it is to be understood that they may likewise be employed as the take-up mechanism for receiving any web of material, including, e.g., used ink ribbon. Additionally, in appropriate applications, they may be used as a mechanism for supplying rolled webs of material. 
         [0047]    In any event, it is to be appreciated that in connection with the particular exemplary embodiment(s) presented herein certain structural and/or function features are described as being incorporated in defined elements and/or components. However, it is contemplated that these features may, to the same or similar benefit, also likewise be incorporated in other elements and/or components where appropriate. It is also to be appreciated that different aspects of the exemplary embodiments may be selectively employed as appropriate to achieve other alternate embodiments suited for desired applications, the other alternate embodiments thereby realizing the respective advantages of the aspects incorporated therein. 
         [0048]    It is also to be appreciated that certain elements described herein as incorporated together may under suitable circumstances be stand-alone elements or otherwise divided. Similarly, a plurality of particular functions described as being carried out by one particular element may be carried out by a plurality of distinct elements acting independently to carry out individual functions, or certain individual functions may be split-up and carried out by a plurality of distinct elements acting in concert. Alternately, some elements or components otherwise described and/or shown herein as distinct from one another may be physically or functionally combined where appropriate. 
         [0049]    In short, the present specification has been set forth with reference to preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the present specification. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.