Patent Publication Number: US-2013243512-A1

Title: Printer with label self-stripping mechanism

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Self-adhesive labels serve many purposes and are vital to different businesses. Shipping addresses, bar codes, name tags, and various other indicia are commonly printed on self-adhesive paper for different reasons. As smaller and smaller resolution printing becomes possible with modern printers, tinier labels can be (e.g., ¼, ½, or 1 inch in length) are becoming popular access different industries like electronics and manufacturing. Labels today are printed on paper or other media with a side for printing affixed to a wax or some other synthetic backing that can be removed once the label is ready to be stuck on something. Once printed, labels need to be separated from the backing by hand to reveal the adhesive portion of the labels. Doing so can be very tedious to people who constantly need to print and stick labels. A printer generating labels throughout the day may require workers to constantly remove printed address labels all day long, which can quickly become repetitive day in and day out. 
     Label paper typically includes a top side to be printed on with adhesive stuck to a backing. Once a desired indicia, label, or other marking is printed on the top side, the label paper—top side still affixed to the underside—is sent out of the printer for a user to pick up. The user can then peel the top side away from the backing, revealing the adhesive that can be used to adhere the label to a something, but afterward, the user must discard the backing. Constantly tearing labels away from backings is time consuming for the user, and discarded backings, if not properly thrown away, can quickly clutter an area. 
     Stripping a label from a backing is a difficult task to perform mechanically by a printer. Stripping the label too quickly may result in the label tearing, not separating uniformly, or overturning within the printer and causing a jam. Stripping too slowly may give the label time to reattach to the backing. To perform properly, a printer must reliably separate every label; otherwise, jamming or other functional problems will ensue. Efficient printers lie at the backbone of today&#39;s business community, so printer malfunctions can be quite costly in the work environment. 
     SUMMARY 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Nor is this summary intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. In fact, some embodiments may include features not specifically described in this summary, or other features generally well known to those skilled in the art. 
     One aspect of the invention is directed to a printer that internally separates the backings from the print sides of self-adhesive paper. Rollers inside the printer feed the self-adhesive paper to a printing area and a self-stripping area. Once a desired label, ticket, or other indicia is printed on the print side of the self-adhesive label in the printing area, the backing of the self-adhesive paper is removed in the self-stripping area. As a result, an adhesive side underneath the print side is exposed before the print side is ejected from the printer. The removed backing is eventually collected inside the printer so that a technician or other person may later remove all removed backings at once. 
     During separation, the backing is removed from the print side at a specific angle created by tensions in previous separations of print sides and backings. In other words, previously separated print sides and backings are pulled and forced through the printer in such a manner as to create the separation angle for backing removal. A ribbon break shaft and one or more rollers govern the tension on the print side of the self-adhesive paper. While a platen roller and a cantilever leaf spring create the appropriate tension on the backing side. The separation angle generally ranges between 19 and 25 degrees, and one embodiment precisely uses a 21.75 degree angle. These angles consequently produce more even label separation than other techniques, resulting in less printer jamming or malfunctioning, and removing the need for people to peel printed labels from backings. 
     Another aspect is directed to an internal process inside a printer for automatically removing the backing of a self-adhesive label. Once a user requests printing on the self-adhesive paper, the self-adhesive paper is fed to a self-splitting ledge that removes a backing from a print side at a specific angle. Doing so requires specific tensions in previously separated print sides and backings. Rollers pull the sheet of the previously separated print sides toward an eject slot in the printer, while a ribbon break shaft forces newly separated print sides down. As for the backing sheet, tension is created by a paten roller and cantilever leaf spring directing backings to a collector roll for a technician to later remove. Once split from a backing, a print side with underlying adhesive exposed is ejected from the printer to a user. Edges of a particular label may be demarcated with perforations that can be torn to create the desired printing, or the printings may be cut with a cutting bar inside the printer before being ejected. Eventually, a printer user is presented with a desired printing with an exposed adhesive side, thus alleviating the need for the user to peel the printing from a backing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures. These drawings are provided to illustrated several different embodiments of the present invention, though perhaps not all embodiments. The respective descriptions herein aid in the teachings of the drawings. The following drawings are included with in this disclosure: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of a printer capable of printing self-adhesive paper without a backing, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a printer capable of internally stripping self-adhesive paper from a backing, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of a self-stripping mechanism and platen roller, according to at least one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of different parts of a self-stripping mechanism, according to at least one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram of a work flow for automatically removing the backings from print sides of self-adhesive paper, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The subject matter described herein is presented with specificity to meet statutory requirements. The description herein is not intended, however, to limit the scope of this patent. Instead, the claimed subject matter may also be embodied in other ways, to include different steps or combinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. It should be noted that the claims govern the confines of the invention and may recite different combinations of feature than the combinations described herein. 
     Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a printer with a splitting mechanism for automatically separating the backing from self-adhesive paper before being ejected from the printer. The embodiments allow printed labels, stickers, tickets, or other indicia to easily be printed on self-adhesive paper and presented to a person such that the adhesive side of the paper is already exposed. Being separated inside the printer means a printer user does not have to manually peel a label from a backing, and saving the user the hassle of having to peel and discard a backing. 
     Self-adhesive label paper is discussed mentioned in relation to different embodiments of the invention. To clarify, self-adhesive paper refers to paper that includes a side for printing with an underlying adhesive side and a backing affixed to the adhesive side. Upon separation, the backing is removed and the adhesive side is exposed. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the print side may comprise some type of printable paper stock acting as a receptacle for printed labels, tickets, or other indicia. The adhesive side may be a uniform or patterned adhesive or sticky material on the back of the print side. The backing may be any sort of label or adhesive backing, such as, for example, a wax paper or other synthetic material. Embodiments are not limited to label paper requiring an adhesive side, however. Any type of paper needed separated may be used; however, for the sake of clarity, self-adhesive paper is referenced herein to describe different embodiments. 
     Embodiments mentioned herein reference two sheets after splitting: (1) a print-side sheet that includes successive sides for printing with an exposed adhesive side; and (2) a backing sheet that includes the successively stripped backings. While discussed in further detail below, the self-strip ledge may separate the paper in a number of different ways. The paper may include one or more perforations that are caught on the self-strip ledge and that wedges the paper in a separated print with underlying adhesive and a backing. Instead of using perforations, the self-strip ledge may wedge the paper in two at some indention, cutout, or edge of the paper. Other embodiments may alternatively use suction or an adhesive arm instead of the self-strip ledge to separate the print side from the backing. Further still, different temperatures or heating techniques may be applied for separating the paper. Thus, numerous wedging and separating techniques can be used and are fully contemplated by the present invention. 
     One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a printer equipped with one or more rollers feeding self-adhesive paper to a printing area. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, self-adhesive paper typically includes a print side with underlying adhesive affixed to a backing side. After printing, the printer feeds the self-adhesive paper to a self-strip ledge that separates the print side from the backing, thus revealing the adhesive. The two sides of the self-adhesive paper may be pulled through various areas of the printer in long sheets. Indications of labels successively perforated, stamped, or marked thereon. 
     Certain tensions are maintained on each sheet to ensure the self-adhesive paper separates at a specific angle determined to be highly superior for automatic peeling of the self-adhesive paper. To create the appropriate tension in the backing side, an arcuately rotating platen roller pulls the backings, and a cantilever leaf spring applies a force to the platen roller to aid the platen roller in creating the tension. For the print-side sheet, one embodiment employes one or more rollers to pull the separated sheet toward an outlet slot of the printer where self-adhesive labels are ejected. Additionally, a ribbon print break shaft may apply pressure to the print-side sheet, keeping the print-side sheet in a specific area of the printer. Using certain tensions in the two sheets allows print sides to be separated from backings at the specific separation angle. In at least one embodiment, the angle is 21.75 degrees, which was shown to be optimal upon testing. Alternatively, the angle may vary between 19 and 25 degrees. Or other angles may be used in different embodiments depending on paper weight, paper type or stock, roller size or rotational speeds, pressure from the cantilever leaf spring or ribbon break shaft, or some other factors. 
     Another embodiment is directed to a method, performed inside a printer, for successively creating self-adhesive printed paper by separating a print side from a backing. In this embodiment, an arcuately rotating platen roller pulls previously separated backings of the paper across a roller, producing a tension in the backing. A ribbon break shaft, or other stopper, applies a force to print sides of the paper that have previously been separated—i.e., already-split print sides—and one or more rollers pull the previously split print sides. The ribbon break shaft and the roller(s) thus create a tension in the print-side sheet that, when combined with the tension in the backing sheet from the platen roller, allows a self-strip ledge to separate a print side from a backing at a specific angle. Again, the angle may vary in different embodiments, such as, for example, 21.75 degrees in one embodiment, between 19-25 degrees in another embodiment, or at some other angle. 
     Having generally described an overview of a few embodiments of the present invention, attention is focused on the drawings for further illumination. The drawings merely provide illustrations for explanatory purposes, and are not necessarily meant to construed claimed embodiments to any particular mechanisms or machinations. In fact, some embodiments may include components, devices, or other parts not shown in the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of a printer capable of printing self-adhesive paper without a backing, according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown, a user presses button  102  to initiate printing a ticket, label, or other indicia on print side  104  of a piece of self-adhesive paper. Insider printer  100 , the backing affixed to print side  104  is removed before print side  104  is ejected to the user. Print side  104  may be sectioned off in standardized increments (e.g., ¼inch, ½inch, 1 inch, etc.), as indicated by perforations  108 . These perforations allow the self-adhesive paper to easily be torn away in successive increments of the same size. It may not be desirous to have printed labels of the same size, however, so alternative embodiments may not use perforations  108 . In those scenarios, printer  100  may be equipped with teeth, a cutting bar, or other mechanism to separate print side  104  from a sheet of the self-adhesive paper. One skilled in the art will understand that numerous different techniques may be used for cutting print side  104  to particular lengths and those techniques are fully contemplated by the embodiments of the present invention. 
     Print side  104  also includes indention  110 , which is a particular perforation used in one embodiment to effectuate internally splitting print side  104  from a backing. In operation, a self-stripping ledge or bar wedges between print side  104  and the backing at indention  110 , prying the two pieces apart. While shown as an accentuated perforation in  FIG. 1 , indention  110  may take many different forms, so embodiments are not limited to the indention  110  shown. Alternative to what is shown in  FIG. 1 , indention  110  may be located anywhere on print side  104 , on an edge of both print side  104 , or on a backing instead of print side  104 . The latter scenario may be particularly advantageous because separated print side  104 , when ejected to a user, would not include a notched look from an accentuated indention  110  and thus would be much cleaner looking. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of a printer capable of internally stripping self-adhesive paper from a backing, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Printer  200  is depicted with a side door open to reveal various inner workings and mechanisms inside. A feed  202  of self-adhesive paper is conveyed through printer  200  for printing and then automatic stripping of the self-adhesive paper&#39;s backing. The specifics of printing need not be discussed at length herein, as one skilled in the art will generally understand different configurations (e.g., laser, thermal, etc.) can be used to print indicia on the self-adhesive paper. 
     After printing, the self-adhesive paper is directed to separation area  204  including a self-strip ledge  206  that is responsible for separating print sides from backings of the self-adhesive paper. Self-strip ledge  206  may be made of any type of plastic, metal, or other rigid material capable of wedging between a print side and of a backing of self-adhesive paper. Perforations, indentions, edges, or other openings in either the print side or the backing may act as the point at which self-strip ledge  206  starts to wedge the two apart. In one embodiment, self-strip edge  206  splits the print side from the backing at angle  208  (e.g., 21.75 degrees, 19-25 degrees, or some other angle). In such an embodiment, angle  208  of splitting is created by the generating certain tensions in sheets of previously separated print sides  210  and backings  212 . Pulling sheets  210  and  212  at the appropriate tensions ensures self-splitting ledge  206  separates the print side from the backing at the specified angle. 
     For print-side sheet  210 , tension is created by the rollers  214  pulling previously separated print sides and ribbon break shaft  216  forcing newly separated print sides downward. In this way, ribbon break shaft  216  acts as somewhat of a barrier as rollers  214  guide newly separated print sides out of printer  200 . While two rollers  214  are depicted, some embodiments may use additional or fewer rollers. Some embodiments may not use rollers  214  to pull separated print sides from self-stripping ledge  206 , opting instead to employ other modes of conveyance. 
     Arcuately rotating platen roller  218  works with cantilever leaf spring  220  to pull backing sheet  212  away from self-strip ledge  206  at angle  208 . In particular, cantilever leaf spring  220  tangentially applies pressure at point  222  in order to create the appropriate tension in backing sheet  212 . Embodiments do not require cantilever leaf spring  220 , however, as other mechanisms may be used to apply the appropriate tangential pressure to platen roller  218 . Platen roller  218  directs backing sheet  212  to roller  220 , which conveniently collects and stores the removed backings. A person can then remove the summarily collected backings and dispose of the backings all at once, eliminating the need to throw each backing away individually and creating a far easier way to discard backings from label paper. 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram of a self-stripping mechanism and platen roller, according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. Self-stripping mechanism  300  includes a self-strip ledge  302  and a platen roller  304 . Self-stripping ledge  302  may be made from any type of rigid metal or plastic. Platen roller  304  may be made from silicon rubber, wood, plastic, or metal, and, in one embodiment, helps create pressure on label paper during printing to ensure clean printouts. Also shown, thought not required in all embodiments, lever  306  provides a easy locking mechanism for inserting and removing self-stripping mechanism into a printer. One skilled in the art will understand, however, that many alternative locking or connecting mechanisms may be used to insert or remove the self-stripping mechanism in a printer. Therefore, embodiments should not be construed to require a lever or any other interlocking mechanism. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of different parts of a self-stripping mechanism, according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. Self-stripping mechanism  400  feeds paper  402  to self-stripping ledge  404  to be separated at angle  406 . Maintaining specific tensions in sheets  408  and  410  produce the appropriate angle  406  for splitting a print side from a backing. Rollers  412  and ribbon break shaft  414  create the tension in print-side sheet  408 . Platen roller  416  and cantilever leaf spring  418  create the tension in backing sheet  410 . Removing the backing in such a way allows only the print side with an exposed underlying adhesive to be ejected from the printer to a user. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram of a work flow for automatically removing the backing of a self-adhesive label inside a printer, according to one embodiment of the invention. Once a user requests printing on the self-adhesive paper, flow  500  begins by feeding the self-adhesive paper to a self-splitting mechanism, as shown at block  502 . The self-splitting mechanism works to remove a backing from a print side of a self-adhesive label at a specific angle. To do so, tensions are created and maintained in previously separated print sides and backings. Rollers pull the sheet of the previously separated print sides toward an eject slot in the printer, while a ribbon break shaft forces newly separated print sides down. Such a step is indicated at block  504 . As for the backing sheet, tension is created by a cantilever leaf spring pressing on a patent roller that directs backings to a collector roll for later removal by a technician or other person. Such a step is shown at block  506 . 
     As mentioned several times before, the two sheet tension work to create a precise angle for splitting print sides from backings, as indicated at  508 . For some embodiments of the invention, though not necessarily all, a separation angle of 21.75 degrees proves highly effective in separating self-adhesive paper with little or no fault. Other embodiments of the invention may use different angles (e.g., 19-25 degrees) depending on the stock or liner of paper, speed of rollers, tensions created in the print sides or backings, or other factors. Therefore, embodiments of the invention are not particularly limited to any specific separation angle, as different circumstances may necessitate different angles. 
     Once split from a backing, a print side with underlying exposed adhesive is ejected from the printer to a user, as indicated at block  510 . In one embodiment of the invention, a user-requested printing is demarcated with perforations that can be torn to create the desired printing. Alternatively, the adhesive-exposed print side can be cut by a cutting bar inside the printer to create the desired printing. Various other alternative techniques may be used for outputting the desired printing, as embodiments may use different ways to create specifically sized printings than just simply printing labels on backings and leaving the user to remove backings. 
     As shown at block  512 , The removed backings are collected, in sheet form, inside the printer. The collection may occur around a roll, spool, or in some other depository that can easily be removed by a technician or person who opens the printer. Or, in alternative embodiments of the invention, a self-eject mechanism may be included in the printer to eject a roll or removed backings at the touch of a button. However the backings are removed, neatly collecting all the backings inside the printer eliminates the need for users to peel and throw away backings themselves. The end result is far less mess or hassle for generating and discarding self-adhesive paper. 
     The illustrated steps are not limited to a sequential manner, as some embodiments will perform the steps in parallel or out of the sequence illustrated. Furthermore, although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Instead, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. For example, multiple rollers may be used to create the effects shown by one or more rollers described herein, or specific separation angles may be different than those discussed. Different printing, scoring, indentation, or marking techniques may be used to demarcate labels. Also, the subject matter in the appended claims may include any number of the previously mentioned features than what has been described herein.