Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Austrian Application No. A 1740/99 filed Oct. 15, 1999. Applicant also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §365 of PCT/AT00/00260 filed Oct. 5, 2000. The international application under PCT article 21(2) was not published in English. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an apparatus for displaying letters, numbers or symbols, as well as an apparatus for setting said apparatus. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The attachment of letterings such as prices, descriptions, notes, technical specifications or the like to merchandise is of particular importance nowadays. Consumers are becoming more and more demanding and wish to be informed as precisely as possible about the products that they wish to purchase. Thus it is important for the consumer to obtain information for example about the exact price, the material and the technical data of the product on the one hand, and it offers the vendor or seller of the products the advantage on the other hand that the consumer feels well-informed for the moment without any additional advice having to be given. 
   It is therefore certainly common practice all over the world to provide the exhibited goods in a shop display or sales locations with price tags or other kinds of lettering. The consumer can thus determine in a very simple manner in passing whether the price/performance ratio concerning specific merchandise is grounds for purchasing the article or not. 
   The apparatuses generally used for displaying the price are usually small rails in which individual letters or numbers printed on small plates are inserted. 
   It is further also common practice to print price labels on paper and to attach the same to film disposed on the merchandise. 
   Small plastic cubes are also used where each cube contains a number, a letter or a symbol (currency symbol) and in this way the various different prices or other data can be composed. 
   The disadvantage of these apparatuses according to the state of the art is that the vendor of the goods who wishes to mark the same with prices or other data needs to go to the respective goods with a storage box of letters, numbers or symbols in order to compose the various prices laboriously from the individual parts. There is a high likelihood that a number of the individual parts have already been lost or that especially the number or letter which is necessary for the price or desired text to be composed is not present because all of these numbers/letters have already been used for other goods. Generally it can be said that the vendor must always ensure that a sufficient number of individual blocks with letters, numbers or symbols are available, as otherwise a marking of the goods with the desired price or text is not possible. 
   The use of printed price or information labels has the disadvantage that they need to be printed first, must then be transported to the respective goods and must be inserted there in a sleeve. If the price labeling is wrong, the wrong label can only be replaced after a renewed printout of the label, which might possibly occur at a different location. An additional factor is that any change in the price requires the discarding of the old price tag. 
   From U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,110 an apparatus is known in which openings are disposed in a matrix-like manner in a base part, with movable members being held displaceably in said openings, with each movable member being displaceable from a first position in which a face side of the movable member is visible from a visible surface of the base part to a second position in which said face surface is substantially disposed in a non-visible way. Magnetic balls are used as movable members which can be conveyed by another magnet to the visible position. In order to arrest the balls in the visible position, additional holding means are disposed on the base part such as magnetic rails or edges or lips which project into the opening, which edges or lips act upon the ball and arrest the same in its position. In order to release this catch it is then necessary to press against the ball by means of a pin-like object for example in order to release the same from the catch. It is usually sufficient, however, to strongly shake the base part in order to move the balls again to their non-visible positions. The disadvantage in the apparatus as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,110 A is the fact that the introduction of the balls into the openings is relatively difficult due to the edges and lips which close off said openings. Moreover, these edges and lips are worn off relatively quickly, so that the arresting of the balls in their visible positions is no longer possible. 
   Apparatuses are further known from DE 1 623 800 A, GB 990 094 A, FR 1 465 490 or GB 2 317 490 A which work according to the same principle as U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,110. In these cases the actuation of the movable members occurs by means of current or a fluid. The use as a display means for price labels for example is thus not possible or only within limits because the drive system of the movable members impose limits concerning the miniaturization of such a display apparatus. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the kind mentioned above which is small and handy and allows displaying letters, numbers and symbols without requiring a store of different characters and without requiring any inconvenient puzzle-like composition of the letters, numbers or symbols for producing the desired information. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the kind mentioned above which makes do without using fluids and/or current for moving the movable members and which allows at the same time arresting the movable members in the openings without any additional auxiliary means. 
   This is achieved by the characterizing features of claim  1 . 
   The provision of a loose fit and a sliding seat between opening and movable member allows on the one hand the simple displacement of the movable members in the opening. On the other hand, the movable member is immediately fixed in its momentary position after the release. Additional edges or lips which also require additional production efforts are not necessary. 
   The features of claims  3  to  4  allow displaying a large variety of characters with a fixed predetermined number of openings per character. These features also allow displaying characters of every language, i.e. any desired font and also special characters without having to exchange the apparatus per se. 
   As a result of the feature of claim  5  it is not necessary to build the individual characters by displacing several movable members, but the displacement of one single member is sufficient in order to make the character visible for the viewer. This variant for a solution is particularly suitable for characters that need to be changed or adjusted only rarely. 
   The features of claim  6  allow displaying any desired character, preferably also the known seven-segment displays, as are used in LCD displays for example. 
   The feature of claim  7  allows fastening additional information in the groove which is printed on a piece of paper, cardboard or plastic. 
   The feature of claim  8  allows fastening the apparatus in accordance with the invention by means of at least one pin on the respective ware. 
   The feature of claim  9  allows fastening other different fixing elements to the apparatus in accordance with the invention. In this way the apparatus can be fastened flexibly to the respective ware. 
   The feature of claim  10  prevents that the movable members can be pushed out of the openings during improper displacement and setting of the characters. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for displacing movable members in a base part ( 1 ). 
   This is enabled in accordance with the invention by the characterizing features of claims  11  to  19 . 
   The features of claim  11  allow in a simple manner to bring the movable elements to an arrangement corresponding to the character to be displayed. By compressing the holding elements, the pin-like elements engage successively in the openings of the apparatus for displaying the characters and thus displace the movable members to a defined starting position and then to a position corresponding to the character to be displayed. 
   The feature of claim  16  allows choosing the characters to be displayed from a template of characters to be displayed. 
   The features of claim  13  describe a preferred embodiment of the setting apparatus. 
   The features of claim  14  allow an easy ejection of the apparatus in accordance with the invention from the setting chamber. 
   The features of claim  19  describe an alternative embodiment of a setting apparatus in accordance with the invention which is characterized by fewer individual parts. 
   The alternative ejection mechanism according to the claims  15  to  19  allow the braked ejection of the base part of the price label as well as a straight-lined insertion of the same into the setting chamber. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The invention is now explained in closer detail by reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  shows an apparatus in accordance with the invention for displaying characters in a front view; 
       FIG. 2  shows an apparatus in accordance with the invention for displaying characters in a sectional view along the line AA of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  shows an apparatus in accordance with the invention for displaying characters with stop strips in the openings; 
       FIG. 4  shows an alternative apparatus in accordance with the invention for displaying characters with the movable members in a non-visible position; 
       FIG. 5  shows an alternative apparatus in accordance with the invention for displaying characters with the movable members in a non-visible position; 
       FIG. 6  shows an alternative apparatus in accordance with the invention for displaying characters with the movable members in a non-visible position; 
       FIG. 7  shows an apparatus in accordance with the invention for displaying characters with inserted piece of paper; 
       FIG. 8  shows an apparatus in accordance with the invention for displaying characters with a pin which is pierced through; 
       FIG. 9  shows an apparatus in accordance with the invention for displaying characters with a holding element; 
       FIG. 10  shows an alternative form and arrangement of the openings in the base part of an apparatus in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 11  shows a further alternative form and arrangement of the openings in the base part of an apparatus in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 11   a  shows a sectional view along the line BB of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 12  shows a sectional view of a first embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the invention for setting the desired characters in the idle position along the line of intersection CC of  FIG. 16 ; 
       FIG. 13  shows a sectional view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention in the calibrating position along the line of intersection CC of  FIG. 16 ; 
       FIG. 14  shows a sectional view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention in the setting position along the line of intersection CC of  FIG. 16 ; 
       FIG. 15  shows a sectional view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention for setting the apparatus for displaying characters along the line of intersection DD of  FIG. 16 ; 
       FIG. 16  shows a top view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention for setting the apparatus for displaying characters; 
       FIG. 16   a  shows a top view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention for setting the apparatus for displaying characters with a display element; 
       FIG. 17  shows a sectional view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention along the line of intersection CC of  FIG. 16  for performing the method in accordance with the invention without an apparatus for displaying characters; 
       FIG. 18  shows a sectional view of a second embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the invention for setting the desired character in the idle position along the line of intersection CC of  FIG. 16 ; 
       FIG. 19  shows a sectional view as shown in  FIG. 18 , but in the calibrating position of the setting apparatus; 
       FIG. 20  shows a sectional view as in  FIGS. 18 and 20 , but in the setting position of the setting apparatus; 
       FIG. 21  shows a sectional view along the line EE of  FIG. 17  with an alternative ejection mechanism of the setting chamber in the idle position; 
       FIG. 21   a  shows a sectional view along the line EE of  FIG. 17  with an alternative ejection mechanism of the setting chamber in the idle position in a detailed view; 
       FIG. 22  shows a sectional view along the line EE of  FIG. 17  with an alternative ejection mechanism in the latched position in a detailed view; 
       FIG. 23  shows a sectional view along the line EE of  FIG. 17  with an alternative ejection mechanism and partly inserted or ejected apparatus for displaying characters in a detailed view; 
       FIG. 24  shows a detailed sectional view of the setting chamber along the line CC of  FIG. 16  after the calibration of the apparatus for displaying characters; 
       FIG. 25  shows a detailed sectional view of the setting chamber along the line CC of  FIG. 16  during the setting of the characters. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  shows an apparatus in accordance with the invention for displaying characters in a front view. Several openings  2  are provided in a basic body  1 . The openings are arranged as bores. The arrangement is made in the present example in the form of a matrix. Any desired character (even special characters) can be represented very easily in this way. 
     FIG. 2  shows the apparatus in accordance with the invention in a sectional view. The movable members  3 , which are arranged displaceably along the bores  2 , can be recognized clearly. The movable members  3  are fitted into the openings  2  by means of a sliding seat (loose fit), so that any unintentional falling of the movable members  3  out of the openings  2  is not possible. The movable members  3  and the basic body  1  can be provided with different colors. 
   The effect in accordance with the invention also occurs when the movable members  3  and the basic body  1  are of the same color (with the exception of the color black), because the movable members  3  which are pushed into the basic body  1  do not remain visible even in the case of identical colors (with the exception of the color black) and therefore give the impression of a dark lettering. 
   A viewer who is situated in front of the apparatus in accordance with the invention and looks in the direction of arrow  4  sees the basic part  1  and all movable members  3  since their face sides  5  are flush with the surface of the basic part  1 . Assuming that in the present example all face surfaces  5  of the movable members  3  are flush with the surface facing the viewer, the viewer will see a matrix as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     FIG. 3  shows a number of the movable members  3  which are pushed rearwardly in the openings  2  (away from the viewer). Due to the insertion depth which depends on the diameter of the openings  2  (which are formed in the present case as bores), no light falls on these rearwardly pushed movable members. They are therefore not visible to the viewer who looks in the viewing direction  4 . In this way it is possible to display any desired character by the combination of visible and non-visible movable members  3 . 
   As is shown in  FIG. 3 , the openings  2  (bores) can additionally be tapered in their rear end zone which is averted from the viewer. The constriction is made to such an extent that the movable elements  3  cannot inadvertently be pushed out of the basic part  1 , e.g. during the setting of the characters. 
     FIG. 4  shows a basic part  1  in which all movable members  3  are pushed rearwardly. The viewer can no longer see the movable members  3  in this case. He only sees the basic part  1  or the openings  2 . The sliding seat of the movable members  1  in the basic body  3  prevents the movable members  3  from falling out of the basic body  1 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  each show alternatively arranged basic parts  1  which produce a slight inclined position of the apparatus and thus helps the viewer who looks at the apparatus from an oblique view from above to read the set characters. The entire matrix-like arrangement of the movable members is again visible to the viewer in  FIG. 5  ( FIG. 5   a ), whereas in  FIG. 6  certain characters are already set or displayed ( FIG. 6   a ). 
     FIG. 7  shows an apparatus in accordance with the invention, with a groove  44  being arranged on basic part  1  in which a piece of paper  6  is inserted. The paper can contain additional information concerning the merchandise thus labeled or any other desired text. 
   In  FIG. 8 , the apparatus in accordance with the invention is provided with at least one additional bore  7  into which a pin  8  is inserted for example. It is used for fastening the apparatus in accordance with the invention to the merchandise such as a garment for example. 
     FIG. 9  shows an alternative form of fastening the apparatus in accordance with the invention by way of a holder  9  which has been inserted in an additional opening  10  in basic part  1 . 
   As a result of the additional bores  7  and openings  10 , a large number of fastening possibilities are possible which can be adjusted to the various materials and shapes of the merchandise to be labeled. 
   The basic parts as described in  FIGS. 1 through 9  are all provided with cylindrical openings  2  (bores), with said openings having a matrix-shaped arrangement. The movable members  3  must in this case also be provided with a cylindrical shape, with a sliding seat (loose fit) being again provided between the movable members  3  and the respective openings  2  in the basic body  1 . 
   Other forms and arrangements of the openings  2  in the basic part  1  and, obviously, also the movable members  3  are possible. 
     FIG. 10  shows for example the arrangement of segment-like openings  2  in the basic part  1 . This arrangement and configuration of the openings  2  is sufficient for the display of numbers and simple letters. The function is the same as in the matrix-like arrangement of the cylindrical openings  2  with cylindrical movable members  3 . 
     FIG. 11  shows the arrangement of a symbol-shaped opening  2  in a basic part  1 . The arrangement of the entire opening  2  can have the same shape as the symbol. In this case the associated movable member must be provided with the shape of the symbol. The embodiment as shown in  FIG. 11   a  is simpler to manufacture, however. The surface of the basic part  1  which is situated in the direction of view  4  of the viewer comprises an opening  2   a  which corresponds to the symbol to be displayed. The further progress of the opening  2  is as usual cylindrical or cuboid. Accordingly, the movable member  3  can also be provided with a cylindrical or cuboid shape and need not necessarily be adjusted to the complex shape of the character (symbol) to be displayed. The function is also the same as in all other cases. 
     FIG. 12  shows an apparatus  35  for performing the method for setting characters of the apparatus in accordance with the invention according to claims  1  through  10 . 
   An upper holding part  11  is connected with a lower holding part  12  via a spring  13  and a lever combination  14  consisting of a lever  15  which is rotatably held on the upper holding part  11  and a lever  16  which is rotatably held on the lower holding part  12 . The two levers  15 ,  16  are also mutually rotatably connected. At the connection point  17  of the two levers  15 ,  16  a spring attacks which is fastened at its lower end in the lower holding part  12 . The lower holding part  12  thus forms with the upper holding part  11  from its middle zone a substantially V-shaped element. The upper holding part  11  further comprises two openings  33 ,  33   a.    
   The lever combination  14  is thus arranged in such a way that in the case of a bending stress the same bends out according to a predetermined direction. This is achieved in the present example in such a way that the upper lever  15  is provided with an extension  19  through which an arrangement in true alignment of the two levers  15 ,  16  with one another is prevented. In this way the lever combination  14  can merely bend out in the direction under a bending stress in which the extension  19  is disposed. 
   The lower half  12  is further rotatably fastened to pins  20 ,  20   a  (pin  20   a  is not visible in  FIG. 12 ). The pins  20 ,  20   a  are disposed on two brackets  21  and  21   a  (bracket  21   a  is not visible in  FIG. 12 ) which are held in a vertically displaceable manner in the upper holding part  11 . The brackets  21 ,  21   a  are each provided with an opening  32 ,  32   a.    
   The upper holding part  11  is further provided in its middle zone with a substantially U-shaped setting chamber  22  which is upwardly open. Pin-like calibrating elements  23  are disposed in the floor of said setting chamber, which calibrating elements are upwardly aligned. The dimensions of the setting chamber  22  are dimensioned in such a way that an apparatus in accordance with the invention, as described in claims  1  through  9 , fits into the space. The openings  32 ,  32   a  of said brackets  21 ,  21   a  are aligned in the idle position in such a way that jointly with the openings  33 ,  33   a  a continuous opening is produced in the apparatus for performing the method for setting characters of the apparatus in accordance with the invention according to claims  1  to  10 . The setting chamber is further provided with an ejection mechanism ( FIG. 15 ). 
   Several templates  24  are disposed above the setting chamber  22  in a substantially U-shaped guide rail  26  in the upper holding part  11  adjacent to one another. The templates  24  are displaceable along the longitudinal axis of the upper holding part  11  and are provided at their lower side with area separators  28  which divide each template into different, evenly large areas. Every area on its part comprises pin-like setting elements  25  which are aligned downwardly. The pin-like setting elements  25  correspond precisely to the negative or positive of the character to be displayed. The number of the templates substantially depends on the number of characters to be displayed or set. Thus, an apparatus for displaying a three-digit price with cent values and currency symbol requires six templates (see  FIGS. 5   a,    6   a ). 
   The floor plate  29  of the guide rail  26  is provided with tongue-like projections  45  which are provided with a slightly elevated design in a zone  27 , so that during the displacement of the templates  24  they are subjected to a slightly increased displacing resistance and allow a defined latching. The length of the elevation corresponds precisely to the distance of two area separators  28 . In this way a displacement in areas and a latching of the templates is possible. One area each, depending on the setting of the operator, is disposed precisely above the setting chamber  22  in which the apparatus  30  in accordance with the invention has been inserted. 
     FIGS. 16 and 16   a  each show a top view of a setting apparatus in accordance with the invention. One can clearly see the displaceable templates  24 , by means of which the user can choose the characters to be set by displacing the templates. The momentary setting can be checked by the user in an inspection window  39 . 
   In a first step the apparatus  30  in accordance with the invention is pushed into the setting chamber  22  of the apparatus  35  ( FIG. 12 ). Then the user sets the characters which are to be displayed subsequently by means of the movable members  3  and the basic part  1 . The upper side of the templates  24  is ideally provided with a lettering which shows the character which is disposed in the section of area below. Then the handle of the lower holding part  12  is pressed against the handle of the upper holding part  11  until a position as shown in  FIG. 13  has been reached. 
   The lower holding part  12  rotates about a point  31  in  FIG. 12 , as a result of which the pins  20 ,  20   a  plus the brackets  21 ,  21   a  move downwardly. As a result of the forced guidance of the brackets  21 ,  21   a,  the pivot of the lower holding part  12  displaces in the absolute system. The point  31  in  FIG. 12  moves to the right. 
   Upon reaching the position from  FIG. 13 , the apparatus exerts an increased resistance against the occurring pincer-like movement because on the one hand the spring  13  compresses the two parts with increased force and on the other hand the lever combination  14 , due to the displaced brackets  21 ,  21   a  and the thus changed geometry, is subjected to buckling and thus blocks any further bringing together of the two holding parts  11 ,  12 . 
   The spring  18  acts in this process additionally against the buckling of the lever combination  14 . 
   At the same time with the movement of the upper and lower holding parts  11 ,  12  to a position as shown in  FIG. 13 , the apparatus  30  in accordance with the invention is pressed by means of brackets  21 ,  21   a  onto the pin-like calibrating elements  23  which are disposed in the setting chamber  22 , as a result of which the movable members  3  of the apparatus in accordance with the invention are all aligned substantially flush with the surface of the basic part  1  of the apparatus in accordance with the invention. 
   If the pressure on the upper and lower holding part  11 ,  12  is further increased despite the increased resistance as is shown in a position as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the buckling of the lever combination  14  occurs from a defined action of force. In this way the entire lower holding part  12  displaces upwardly in a substantially parallel manner, because on the one hand the spring force of the spring  13  in its one end zone on the one hand and the force applied by the user in its other end zone acts in the direction towards the upper holding part  11 . 
   As a result of the sudden, substantially translation upward movement of the lower holding part  12 , the two brackets  21 ,  21   a  also move upwardly and thus also thereby move the basic part  1  upwardly, as a result of which the same is pressed against the pin-like setting elements  25  of the template  24 . 
   As a result, the movable members  3  in the basic part  1  are aligned in such a way that the effect in accordance with the invention occurs and the viewer can read individual characters. 
   After the release of the two holding parts  11 ,  12  the apparatus  35  returns to its initial position. The brackets  21 ,  21   a  also move to their initial position, so that the openings  32 ,  32   a  again form a continuous opening with the openings  33 ,  33   a.    
   The ejection mechanism which was initially tensioned by the insertion of the apparatus  30  in accordance with the invention into the apparatus  35  in the direction of arrow  36  now ejects the apparatus  30  in accordance with the invention against the direction of insertion ( FIGS. 15   a, b, c ) after the holding part  12  has been moved to its initial position. 
   During the insertion of the apparatus  30  into the setting chamber  22 , an ejection bracket  34  which comprises shoulders  37 ,  38  and an entrainment element  43  is displaced by the entrainment of the entrainment element  43  in the insertion direction  36 . The lower edge of the ejection bracket  34  moves along the floor of the setting chamber  22 . A hook-like nose  40  is disposed there which is arranged in the floor of the setting chamber  22 . The shoulder  38  is inclined in such a way that during the movement of the ejection bracket  34  along the floor of the setting chamber  22  and particularly over the nose  40 , the ejection bracket  34  is slightly lifted at first and is thus moved with the shoulder  38  over the hook-like nose  40 . The ejection bracket  34  is fastened to a spring  41  below the floor of the setting chamber  22 , so that it will automatically return to the horizontal position again once it has been moved over the nose  40 . 
   Once the shoulder  38  has been moved over the nose  40 , the same latches behind said nose  40  by the spring force of spring  41  and the apparatus in accordance with the invention is fixed in its position in the setting chamber. After ending the setting process the ejection bracket  34  is lifted again by the vertical movement of the apparatus  30  in accordance with the invention (which movement is produced by the vertical movement of the brackets  21 ,  21   a ) and the thereby occurring entrainment of the entrainment element  42  and the shoulder  38  is moved over the nose  40 , as a result of which the spring  41  brings the ejection bracket  34  back to its initial position again and thus ejects the apparatus  30  in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 18  shows a further possible embodiment of the apparatus  35  in accordance with the invention for setting the desired characters. The two levers  15 ,  16  of the first variant are replaced by a single lever  46 . It rests with its two end zones on brackets  47 ,  48  which are arranged on the upper holding part  11  and on the lower holding part  12 . The lever  46  is fastened via a spring  18  with the upper holding part  11 , and more precisely with a bridge  49  which projects from the lower side of the setting chamber  22 . The bearing of lever  46  is thus provided in an overhung manner, meaning that it is merely held in its position by spring  18  and the clamping between the upper holding part  11  and the lower holding part  12 . The lower holding part  12  is provided for this reason with projections (not shown) which are guided in a groove of the side wall of the upper holding part  11 , so that the lower holding part  12  is guided on the upper holding part  11 . An additional bridge  50  is disposed on the lower side of the setting chamber  22 , on which a support  51  rests which is rigidly connected with the lever  46 . During the assembly of the apparatus  35  in accordance with the invention for setting the desired characters, the lever  46  can already be mounted on the upper holding part  11 , even before the lower holding part  12  is mounted on the upper holding part  11 . 
   As has already been described in the preceding embodiment of the setting apparatus  35 , the two holding parts  11 ,  12  are compressed at the handle sections ( FIG. 19 ,  FIG. 20 ), as a result of which the one end zone of lever  46  which rests on the upper holding part  11  slides in the direction towards the handle sections and both the spring  18  as well as spring  13  are tensioned in this way. 
   In the setting chamber  22 , the brackets  21 ,  21   a  are pushed downwardly by the pins  20 ,  20   a  as a result of the movement of the lower holding part  12 . The lower holding part  12  performs at first a rotational movement whose center of rotation is situated in the lower end zone of the lever  46 . As a result, the part of the lower holding element which is disposed to the left of the center of rotation moves downwardly at first, which also includes the pins  20 ,  20   a  as well as the brackets  21 ,  21   a,  as a result of which the basic part  1  which is tensioned between the brackets  21 ,  21   a  is pressed against the calibrating elements  23  disposed in the setting chamber floor  22  ( FIG. 19 ). In analogy to the embodiment as described above and for the same reasons, the upper end zone of the lever  46  travels in the subsequent section of the movement in the direction towards the handle sections of the upper and lower holding element  11 ,  12 , through which the lower holding element performs an upwardly directed, substantially translational movement ( FIG. 21 ) and the brackets are again moved upwardly by the pins  20 ,  20   a,  as a result of which subsequently the basic part  1  is pressed against the pin-like setting elements which are disposed on the templates  24  and the movable members  3  are displaced accordingly. The lower holding part  12  rests in this process with an edge  58  on the upper holding part  11 . 
   The last described variant comes with the advantage that the lever combination  14  of the first variant can be replaced by a single lever. 
     FIG. 21  shows an alternative embodiment of an ejection mechanism of the setting chamber  22  in the idle position, i.e. without the inserted basic part  1 . The pin-like calibrating elements  23  which project upwardly from the floor of the setting chamber  22  as well as the spring tongues  45  can be recognized very will in this illustration. In the illustrated idle position the ejection bracket  34  is pressed by the tension spring  41  against the floor of the setting chamber and against a stop  52  in the direction towards the insertion or ejection opening  32   a,    33   a.  The ejection bracket  34  is further provided with an entrainment element  43  which can be brought into engagement with the face side of the basic part  1  of the price label  30 . As a result of the insertion movement in the direction of arrow  36 , the ejection bracket  34  is also moved via the entrainment element  43  in the direction  36  ( FIG. 22 ). A hook  53  disposed on the ejection bracket  34  latches into a bridge  54  disposed on the wall of the setting chamber. 
   After completing the setting process as described above, the ejection bracket  34  is lifted by the vertical movement of the basic part  1  of the price label  30  (produced by the vertical movement of the brackets  21 ,  21   a ) which is upwardly in engagement with a second entrainment element  42  which is also disposed on the ejection bracket  34 , as a result of which the hook is released from its engagement with the bridge  54 . 
   After completing the setting process, the basic part  1  of the price label  30  moves downwardly again, with a further bridge  55  which is longer than the bridge  54  preventing a renewed latching of the hook  53  behind the bridge  54 . 
   Once the setting apparatus is in the initial position again and the openings  32 ,  33  and  32   a,    33   a  form a single continuous opening again, the ejection bracket  34  moves by spring  41  against the direction of insertion  36  until the same impinges on stop  52 . As a result of the entrainment element  43 , the basic part  1  of the price label  30  follows this movement and is thus pushed out of the setting chamber. By the bending of the ejection bracket  34  in the direction towards the opposite setting chamber wall, the basic part  1  of the price label  30  is pressed against the opposite setting chamber wall, as a result of which the ejection which occurs up to stop  52  is braked and falling out is prevented. The entrainment element  42  extends in this process over the entire length of the ejection bracket  34 , as a result of which the insertion of the basic part  1  of the price label  30  into the setting chamber  22  always occurs in a straight line. 
   The upper holding part  12  is further provided with a floor  29  with a tongue-like end zone  56  ( FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 21 ). The latter can be bent downwardly, so that the setting template  24  can be pushed between bracket  57  and the tongue  56 .

Technology Category: 3