Abstract:
A label printing apparatus for accommodating a plurality of widths of rolled label stock is provided. The label printing apparatus includes a frame, a label stock support arm extending from the frame, and a print head located for having label stock pass thereby for printing. The label stock support arm may have at least two stepped regions for supporting rolled label stock, including a first stepped region with edges spaced apart by a first distance corresponding to a first width of label stock and a second stepped region with edges spaced apart by a second distance corresponding to a second width of label stock. One or more label stock guides may include recessed regions for guiding different widths of label stock. A movable wall may also be provided. The various features could also be provided in connection with printers using rolled print media other than label stock.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to printers and, more particularly, to printers which utilize multiple widths of label stock or other media.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Thermal print heads are used for marking various indicia on heat sensitive labels. The labels may be attached to a backing and provided as a roll of label stock. Other types of label stock include linerless or backerless label stock. A roll of label stock is positioned within the printer to move label stock past the thermal print head. The label stock is driven by a roller which moves the label stock past the thermal print head so that the heat of the heating element acts on the heat sensitive labels, thereby marking the labels. Different widths of label stock are commonly used and available. Label printers may also utilize other types of print heads and label stock.  
         [0003]     Accordingly, there is a need for a printer that can accommodate various widths of rolled label stock or other print media while at the same time maintaining proper alignment of the label stock or other print media with the print head.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     In one aspect, a label printing apparatus for accommodating a plurality of widths of rolled label stock is provided. The label printing apparatus includes a frame, a label stock support arm extending from the frame, and a print head located for having label stock passed thereby for printing. The label stock support arm includes at least two stepped regions for supporting rolled label stock, including a first stepped region with edges spaced apart by a first distance corresponding to a first width of label stock and a second stepped region with edges spaced apart by a second distance corresponding to a second width of label stock.  
         [0005]     In another aspect, a label printing apparatus for accommodating a plurality of widths of rolled label stock is provided. The label printing apparatus of the second embodiment includes a frame, a label stock support arm extending from the frame for supporting a rolled label stock, and a print head. A label stock path extends from the label stock support arm to the print head. A label stock guide is positioned along the label stock path and has at least two recessed guide regions along which label stock can move. Specifically, the label stock guide may include a first recessed guide region sized to correspond to a first width of label stock and a second recessed guide region sized to correspond to a second width of label stock.  
         [0006]     In still another aspect, a label printing apparatus for accommodating a plurality of widths of rolled label stock is provided. The label printing apparatus includes a frame, a label stock support arm extending from the frame, and a print head located for having label stock pass thereby for printing. A label stock path extends from the label stock support arm to the print head. At least one wall for positioning alongside the label stock path is provided. The wall is moveable and mountable in at least two positions and includes a first position to guide an edge of label stock of a first width and a second position to guide an edge of label stock of a second width.  
         [0007]     It is recognized that any of the foregoing aspects could also be incorporated into a printer using print media other than label stock and that the foregoing aspects could be incorporated into a printer with or without a cassette that holds label stock for easy replacement, such as the label cassette shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,225. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of one embodiment of a label printing apparatus;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is another side perspective view of the label printing apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view depicting an exemplary label stock path.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a label printing apparatus, generally designated  10 , includes a frame  12  having a label stock support arm  14  extending therefrom. The label stock support arm includes stepped regions  16 . Specifically, a smallest size stepped region  18 , an intermediate size stepped region  20  and a largest size stepped region  22  are provided. The stepped regions  14  are defined by respective edges  24  that are spaced apart to accommodate various widths (small, intermediate and large) of label stock.  
         [0012]     A label stock guide  30  extends from the frame  12  and includes downwardly facing recessed guide regions  32 . Specifically, a smallest size recessed guide region  34 , an intermediate size recessed guide region  36  and a largest size recessed guide region  38  are provided to accommodate the three different widths of label stock. A lower label stock guide  40  includes upwardly facing recessed guide regions  42 , specifically recessed guide regions  44 ,  46  and  48  to accommodate the three different widths of label stock.  
         [0013]     A driven label stock backing reclamation arm  50  extends from the frame  12  and receives and collects the label stock backing after the label stock has passed through a print head assembly  52  and the labels have been removed from the backing. The labels may be removed from the backing by sharply turning the label stock about a pin or edge as is known in the art. Once labels have been removed from the label stock, the backing is collected on the label stock backing reclamation arm  50 . Notably, the arm  50  includes a removable key  54  that is used to secure the backing paper to the arm  50 . The key  54  includes a part  56  extending radially outward from the end of the arm  50  when the key  54  is installed. Spaced apart fingers  58  of the key engage corresponding slots  59  on the reclamation arm  50 .  
         [0014]     The print head assembly  52  includes a roller  60  and thermal print head  62  that define a print line  116  ( FIG. 3 ) therebetween through which the label stock passes. The print line  116  runs substantially parallel to the center axis of the roller  60 . Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , label stock is positioned to pass through the print head assembly  52  such that a center point across the width of the label stock substantially coincides with the center point along the print line.  
         [0015]     A wall  70  may be mounted and moveable to accommodate the different label stock widths. Wall  70  includes openings  72  and  74  through which arms  14  and  50  extend. Arm  14  includes wall receiving slots  76 ,  78  and  80  and arm  50  includes wall receiving slots  82 ,  84  and  86 , with the wall shown mounted in slots  76  and  82 . Thus, the wall  70  can be supported in multiple positions by arms  14  and  50 . An additional wall support arm  90  is also provided and includes wall receiving slots  92 ,  94  and  96 , with the wall  70  having a corresponding opening  97 . Further, the guide  40  includes slots  98 ,  100  and  102  to receive a downwardly extending leg  104  of the wall.  
         [0016]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the arm  14  receives a roll of label stock  110  thereon. A label stock path  112  is defined as the path of the label stock as it moves from the rolled label stock  110  past the label stock guides  30  and  40  on its way to print head assembly  52 . After passing through the print head assembly used label stock backing can be recollected about label stock backing reclamation arm  50  as shown. Notably, the print head assembly  52  may include a print head cover  114  protecting circuitry on the print head  62 , and the cover  114  may include upwardly facing recessed regions similar to those of guide  40 . The print line  116  of the print head assembly is also shown.  
         [0017]     In use, the illustrated embodiment accommodates three different widths of label stock. For the smallest width of accommodated label stock the label stock supply roll sits in stepped region  18  of arm  14 , the label stock moves along the label stock path and is guided by recessed regions  34  and  44  of guides  30  and  40  respectively, and inner wall  70  is mounted in slots  80 ,  86 ,  96  and  102  such that the inside facing edge of the label stock moves along the surface of the wall  70 . In such case the edge  24  to edge  24  dimension of stepped region  18  and the sizing of recessed regions  34  and  44  corresponds to the width of the smallest accommodated label stock. For the intermediate width of accommodated label stock the label stock supply roll sits in stepped region  20  of arm  14 , the label stock moves along the label stock path and is guided by recessed regions  36  and  46  of guides  30  and  40  respectively, and inner wall  70  is mounted in slots  78 ,  84 ,  94  and  100  such that the inside facing edge of the label stock moves along the surface of the wall  70 . In such case the edge  24  to edge  24  dimension of stepped region  20  and the sizing of recessed regions  36  and  46  corresponds to the width of the intermediate width of accommodated label stock. For the largest width of accommodated label stock the label stock supply roll sits in stepped region  22  of arm  14 , the label stock moves along the label stock guide path and is guided by recessed regions  38  and  48  of guides  30  and  40  respectively, and inner wall  70  is mounted in slots  76 ,  82 ,  92  and  98  such that the inside facing edge of the label stock moves along the surface of the wall  70 . In such case the edge  24  to edge  24  dimensions of stepped region  22  and the sizing of recessed regions  38  and  40  corresponds to the width of the largest width of accommodated label stock.  
         [0018]     The illustrated embodiment maintains the label stock centered along the print line. Where the printer is used in combination with an automated label applier, the label position upon exiting the printer is also maintained as desired, regardless of the width of label stock utilized. For example, if a vacuum wand is used to apply labels exiting the printer, the labels can be centered about the axis of the vacuum wand.  
         [0019]     The backing paper reclamation arm key  54  is used to secure the backing paper to the arm  50  by partially wrapping the backing paper about the arm  50  while the key  54  is removed and then inserting the key  54  onto the arm such that fingers  58  overlap and trap the backing paper. As the backing paper accumulates on the arm  50  during operation, the extension part  56  acts as a stop to prevent the backing paper from spiraling off the end of the arm, which aids in preventing malfunction of the label feed in the printer.  
         [0020]     As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the printer  10  includes an internal compartment accessible by a pivoting door  110  having hinges  112  and  114  that define a pivot axis toward the rear of the printer. When the door is in the illustrated open position it is biased open by the action of a spring  116  that extends between the frame  12  and a bracket arrangement  118  acting as on over center mechanism. In the illustrated embodiment a front part  120  of the door moves outward and rearward from the front of the printer when the door  110  is pivoted open.  
         [0021]     Although the invention is shown and described with respect to certain embodiments it is recognized that variations are possible. While the illustrated embodiment is configured to handle three widths of label stock, configurations handling only two widths or more than three widths are contemplated, in which case the label stock support arm might have a number of stepped regions corresponding to the number of widths of label stock, label stock guides might have an appropriate number of recessed guide regions, and the wall would be movable between an appropriate number of positions. Further, while the illustrated embodiment is described primarily with reference to label stock including a plurality of adhesive labels placed on a backing, it is recognized that backerless label stock, or other types of label stock, could be used by making appropriate modifications to handle the different type of label stock if needed. In addition, in place of label stock a printer including the above described guide features could utilize any other rolled print media. While the described print head is a thermal print head, other types of print heads could be used with appropriate, corresponding types of label stock. While a cassette free printer embodiment is primarily shown, it is recognized that various of the described features could be incorporated into the compartment of a print media cassette that holds the rolled label stock or other print media and is removable from the printer. In such an embodiment a media compartment of the printer cassette might include one or more of a label stock support arm with stepped regions, one or more label stock guides with recessed regions and an internal, movable wall. When such a cassette is installed within a printer the cassette is removably held in place and becomes part of the printer frame. Still further, while in the illustrated embodiment features are configured and positioned to maintain label stock or other print media in a centered position relative to a print line of a print head, various of the features could be used to maintain some other, non-centered reference position about a print line.