Patent EP-0045872-B1 (EP)
IPC: B65C11/02
Filed: 1981-07-20
Granted: 1984-11-07
Abstract: 1. A hand labelling apparatus which in a working cycle imprints and dispenses pressure-sensitive labels (8) adhering to a carrier tape (17), comprising a tape feed mechanism (9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 19, 25, 36) which under the control of an operating lever (2) pivotal between a rest position and a swung-in position draws the carrier tape (17) stepwise about a peel edge at which in each working cycle a pressure-sensitive label (8) on feeding in a forward direction detaches from the carrier tape (17) and moves into a dispensing position, said tape feed mechanism including a forward means (9, 10, 12, 25, 36) provided with a feed roll (25) which is rotatably mounted on a shaft (35) and about which the carrier tape (17) is led for moving the carrier tape (17) in the forward direction by at least one label length when the operating lever (2) returns from the swung-in position to the rest position and a printing mechanism (13) which in each working cycle at a printing zone (16) remote from the peel edge (23) oppositely to the forward direction produces an imprint on a pressure-sensitive label (8), characterized in that the tape feed mechanism (9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 19, 25, 36) includes a return means (9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 19) for the carrier tape movement in the return direction opposite the forward direction through at least a distance which is equal to the distance of the peel edge (23) from the printing zone (16) that the forward means (9, 10, 12, 25, 36) is constructed such that it provides for the carrier tape movement in the forward direction through the same distance plus one label length, that a return stop (32) is provided which renders the return means inoperative after said means has moved the carrier tape (17) through a predetermined distance in the return direction, that the forward means is in connection with the operating lever (2) via a directional ratchet mechanism (38, 39) which for a tape movement in the forward direction holds the forward means coupled to the operating lever (2) and releases said means for the tape movement in the return direction, that the peripheral surface of the feed roll (25) is provided with projections (26) which engage in recesses in the carrier tape (17), that on the shaft (35) of the feed roll (25) a drive wheel (36) driven by the operating lever (2) is mounted freely rotatably, that the directional ratchet (38, 39) comprises a forward pawl (38) rigidly connected to the drive wheel (36) and forward detent teeth (39) disposed on the feed roll (25), that the return means is constructed such that it exerts on the carrier tape (17) in the return direction a limited entraining force which can be overcome by a tape tension exerted in the forward direction on the carrier tape (17), that the return stop (32) is formed by a return detent member (33) and detent teeth (34) on the feed roll (25) which are adapted to be brought into engagement therewith and which on said engagement with the return detent member (33) block the movement of the feed roll (25), that a return pawl (40) is rigidly connected to the drive wheel (36) of the feed roll (25) and is adapted to be brought into engagement with return drive teeth (41) on the feed roll (25), and that the return detent member (33) is held positively in engagement with the detent teeth (34) on the feed roll (25) and on movement of the feed roll (25) can be moved in the return direction over the detent teeth (34) when the drive wheel (36) rotates the feed roll (25) via the engagement between the return pawl (40) and a return drive tooth (41) in the return direction.