• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    A cassette for a label printer containing a stock of an image receiving medium; and a pair of aligning components which are arranged to guide said image-receiving medium therebetween and which are configured, in use, to clamp in with a printer of a label printer.
    公开号:BE1019946A3
    申请号:E201000587
    申请日:2010-10-06
    公开日:2013-03-05
    发明作者:Den Broecke Stefaan Van；Kris Vandermeulen；Britsom Dirk Van；Pottelberghe Peter Van
    申请人:Dymo Nv；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    CASSETTE FOR USE IN A LABEL PRINTER
    The present invention relates to a cassette for use in a label printer, to a label printer, and to a combination of a cassette and a label printer.
    A label printer generally includes a print head which is checked for printing on an image receiving medium or on an aid in the form of a continuous backing sheet on which pre-cut labels are provided. The image-receiving medium is generally supplied in a cassette which is recorded in a cassette recording dock of the label printer.
    To obtain good print results, the cassette must be positioned correctly with respect to the dock accommodating a cassette. When the cassette is inserted into the cassette-receiving dock but is not correctly aligned, the print quality may be poor, for example, as a result of the skew of the image relative to the image-receiving medium or of exerting insufficient force when printing.
    Another aspect with regard to obtaining good printing results is that, in the case of a thermal transfer or direct thermal printing, the thermal print head and seal must be closed. Occasionally there are obstructions in the printer such as remnants of tape, glue or other obstacle so that the print head and the platen cannot be closed sufficiently. This leads to poor print quality.
    In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a cassette for a label printer comprising: a stock of an image receiving medium; and a pair of aligning components which are arranged to guide said image-receiving medium therebetween and which are configured, in use, to clamp in with a printer of a label printer.
    In accordance with another aspect, there is provided, in combination, a label printer and a cassette as described in the previous paragraph.
    In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a label printer comprising a cassette receiving dock configured to receive a cassette; a printing device disposed in said cassette-receiving dock, said printing device including means for clamping a pair of aligning components of said cassette when said cassette is located in said cassette-receiving dock.
    In the following, only by way of example, some embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a first perspective view of a cassette in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, with a lid in the open position ; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the cassette of Figure 1, with the lid in the closed position; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a detail of the cassette of Figure 1 from a different angle of view so that an opposite side of the tape aligning protrusion is shown; Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the cassette of Figure 1 in the cassette receiving dock with a platen located at a distance from the cassette and the printhead; Figure 4a is a bird's-eye view of the cassette of Figure 1 in the cassette-receiving dock with a platen located at a distance from the cassette and the printhead; Figure 5 shows a schematic view of the cassette of Figure 1 in the cassette receiving dock with the platen located in a printing position with respect to the cassette and the printhead; Figure 5a is a bird's eye view of the cartridge of Figure 1 in the cartridge-receiving dock with the platen located in a print position relative to the cartridge and the printhead; Figure 6 shows an enlarged view of detail A of Figure 4; Figure 7 shows an enlarged view of detail B of Figure 5; Fig. 8a schematically shows a cassette receiving dock in the label printer;
    Figure 8b schematically shows the elements of a label printer; Figure 9 shows the interior of the cassette of Figure 1; Figure 10 shows a part of the cassette of Figure 1 with more details; Figure 11 shows a perspective view of an unlocking mechanism in a label printer for unlocking a lid of the cartridge of Figure 1; Figure 12 shows a cross-sectional view of the unlocking mechanism of Figure 11, taken along the line F - F of Figure 11; Figure 13 shows a cross section of a portion of the label printer showing the unlocking mechanism before the cassette of Figure 1 is inserted into the cassette receiving dock; Figure 14 shows a cross-section of the portion of the label printer shown in Figure 8a and the cartridge of Figure 1 when the cartridge is inserted; Figure 15 shows a cross-section of the portion of the label printer shown in Figure 8a and the cartridge of Figure 1, with the lid of the cartridge in an unlocked configuration; Figure 16 shows a cross-section of the portion of the label printer shown in Figure 8a and the cartridge of Figure 1, with the lid of the cartridge in an open configuration; and Figure 17 shows the bottom of the lid.
    In the figures, identical numerical references always refer to identical components.
    The cassette shown in the figures is arranged to accommodate one or more stocks of a print medium. The print medium can be an ink ribbon and / or can be an image receiving medium. An image-receiving medium may be in the form of an image-receiving tape with an upper image-receiving layer to receive the image, and a removable backing layer attached to the upper image-receiving layer by means of a layer adhesive in such a way that, after the image is printed, the backing layer can be removed and the image-receiving layer can be adhered to a surface. This image-receiving tape can be supplied continuously. Accordingly, the cassette can be used in a label printer that includes a cutting mechanism to cut a length of the image-receiving tape after the image has been printed.
    Alternatively, the image-receiving medium may contain a continuous backing layer while the image-receiving layer is in the form of pre-cut labels. In this example, the label can be printed and then peeled off the backing layer. Alternatively, the labels may be connected to each other without a backing layer. The labels can be separated from each other by lines that indicate where a user should cut, or by perforations.
    As mentioned, the cassette may contain an image receiving medium or an ink ribbon. In some embodiments, the cassette may contain an image receiving medium and an ink ribbon.
    Some cassettes can be used with a thermal label printer where an image is generated by activating a thermal print head against the ink ribbon in such a way that ink is transferred from the ink ribbon to a printing zone on the image receiving medium.
    It should be noted that, in some embodiments of the present invention, wherein the cassette merely forms the housing of an image-receiving medium, the image-receiving medium may be in the form of a direct thermal image-receiving medium. A direct thermal image receiving medium is such that an image can be formed directly on or within the direct thermal image receiving medium by a thermal print head, without thereby requiring an ink ribbon.
    It should be noted that, in another embodiment, the cassette can only form the housing of an image receiving medium. An ink ribbon can be accommodated in a separate cassette.
    Other embodiments of the present invention may exhibit different structures of an image receiving medium. For example, in some embodiments, after printing, a protective layer may be applied to the printed surface. In other embodiments of the present invention, a protective layer can be applied to the image-receiving surface and printing is through the protective layer. In yet another embodiment, an image is applied to a surface of an image-receiving medium and then the image-receiving medium is adhered to the backing layer, with the printed image on the side of the image-receiving medium attached to the backing layer is attached. In some embodiments, it is possible that there is no backing layer. These embodiments may exhibit a layer of adhesive. In some embodiments, there can be no adhesive. These are just a few examples of the possible structure of the image-receiving medium and of course other structures are possible.
    In some embodiments of the present invention, a specific label printer can be arranged to receive a series of different cassettes, each of which forms the housing of different image-receiving media and / or ink ribbons. The image receiving media may differ from each other in terms of type and / or width. The cassettes may differ in thickness based on the dimensions of the image-receiving media accommodated therein.
    The use of a thermal printhead has been mentioned above. It should be noted that other embodiments may use different printing technologies such as inkjet or any other suitable printing technique.
    Some cassettes in accordance with the present invention are described below, with reference to Figures 1 to 9. First referring in particular to Figures 1 and 2, the cassette 2 has a housing 4. The housing 4 has a rectangular , cubic shape. The housing has a first surface 6 and a second surface 8. The first surface 6 and the second surface 8 are the larger surfaces of the housing 4 and are opposite each other. One of the two surfaces (the first surface 6 or the second surface 8) is arranged to be directed against and / or in contact with a corresponding surface of a cassette receiving dock in a label printer.
    The housing also has a first side 10, a second side 12, a third side 14 and a fourth side 16. These sides extend between the first surface 6 and the second surface 8. The first side 10 is opposite the second side 12 and the third side 14 is opposite the side 16. In use, the second surface 8 is arranged to be directed against the bottom of the cassette printer dock.
    The second surface 8 is controlled to have two openings 24a and 24b which are controlled to receive shafts 326 and 328 from the label printer (see Figure 8a). One of the shafts is connected to a take-up reel for the ink ribbon and the other of these shafts will be connected to the supply of the ink ribbon. One of these shafts, or both, can be powered by the label printer. A first ink ribbon spool 26a (see Figure 9) protrudes from the opening 24a. Similarly, a second ink ribbon spool 26b (see Figure 9) protrudes from the second opening 24b. One of these ink ribbon spools is an ink ribbon supply spindle and the other of these ink ribbon spools is an ink ribbon take-up spool. In the example shown, the second ink ribbon spool 26b is the supply spool and the first ink ribbon spool 26a is the take-up spool.
    The cassette 2 has a cover 28. The cover 28 projects from the fourth side 16 of the cassette. The lid is arranged to move between an open position as shown in Figure 1 and a closed position as shown in Figure 2. In the example shown, the lid 28 has substantially the same dimensions as the fourth side 16. The lid is arranged to to slide in a plane parallel to the fourth side 16 and in a direction that extends along the length of the fourth side. When the lid is in the open position, as shown in Figure 1, an image receiving medium 15 is exposed. The lid is open when the cassette is in the label printer, and is closed when the cassette is removed from the label printer.
    It should be noted that adjacent to the exposed image-receiving medium is a print zone 18 which is defined within the cassette 2 and which is controlled in use to receive at least a portion of the print mechanism of the label printer. This is described below with reference to Figure 8.
    The cassette has a first alignment component 200 and a second alignment component 202. The first alignment component 200 and the second alignment component 202 are provided at the end of the fourth side 16, adjacent the second side 12. The alignment components 200 and 202 are provided on one side of the print zone and the cover, when open, is provided on the opposite side of the print zone 18.
    The aligning components are controlled in such a way that there is a distance between them so that the image-receiving medium 15 is guided between the first aligning component 200 and the second aligning component 202. Consequently, d is generally of the same size or slightly greater than the width of the image-receiving tape.
    The aligning components 200 and 202 are also controlled to perform an aligning function for the lid 16. In particular, the lid 28 has an end 13a that lies in the closed position adjacent to the second side 12. The end has a surface with an angle that slopes from the top of the lid 16 down to the image-receiving medium. The end 13a has a first recess 13b and a second recess 13c on resp. corners of the end 13a. The width of the end 13a of the lid generally corresponds to the width d and the end 13a of the lid is received between the aligning components 200 and 202. The recesses 13b and 13c are formed in such a way that they . aligning aligning components 200 and 202.
    We refer in this regard to Figure 3 which shows the parts of the aligning components 200 and 202 which are controlled to clamp the recesses 13b and 13c. Each recess 13b and c has a first surface 13e located on the side of the end 13a of the cover, parallel to the surfaces of the first and second surfaces of the cassette. Each first surface 13 encloses a corresponding inner side 204c of the first and second aligning components. The inside 204c of each of the aligning components is generally parallel to the surfaces 6 and 8.
    Each recess has a second surface 13f that slopes downwards, parallel to the end 13a. The second surface 13f of each recess is arranged to clamp against a corresponding angled wall 204d of the resp. aligning component.
    It should be noted that in the embodiment shown, and as can be seen particularly clearly in Figure 3, the lid 28 has a reduced thickness in the area of the recess 13c, in such a way that the bottom 13g of the recess is parallel to the plane of the lid and rests on a corresponding surface 204e of the resp. aligning components. In profile, viewed from the side of the lid, the recess defines a profile formed as a V which is received in a corresponding V-shape of the resp. aligning components.
    Consequently, the aligning components function to guide the lid 28 to the correct closed position. It should be noted that in some embodiments of the present invention, the lid is pushed to the closed position when the cassette is out of the label printer, and the lid is pushed to the open position when the cassette is pushed into the label printer.
    The aligning components 200 and 202 fulfill another function. In particular, when the cassette is loaded into a label printer, the aligning components are arranged to ensure that a platen roller 210 is in the correct orientation for printing relative to the cassette and the printhead.
    In some embodiments of the present invention, a print head 212 is arranged to print an image on an image receiving medium. The print head 212 is placed in the print zone 18 of the cassette. The print head 212 is arranged to be secured in position and the platen 210 is moved from a first position (see Figures 4 and 4a), where the platen is kept at a distance from the print head, to a second position (see Figures 5 and 5a), where the platen 210 presses against the print head with the image receiving medium and the ink ribbon therebetween. Figures 4 and 4a show the platen and the printhead in a position held apart, while Figures 5 and 5a show the platen and the printhead in the print position.
    As can be seen in Figures 4 to 7, the platen 210 is mounted on a platen supporting component 214. The platen supporting component 214 includes a container 215. The container has upper and lower ends, respectively. 217a and 217b. The platen 210 is rotatably mounted between the upper and lower ends resp. 217a and 217b. The holder has a side portion 217c that protrudes between the upper and lower ends 217a and 217b of the holder. The side portion has a first portion for clamping the aligning component 220 and a second portion for clamping the aligning component 222. The first aligning component 200 is controlled in such a way that when the platen is in the printing position with respect to of the printhead, the first aligning component 200 is included in the first portion for clamping the aligning component 220. Similarly, the second aligning component 202 is included in the second portion for clamping the aligning component 222. Because the aligning component components 200 and 202 are included in the resp. parts for clamping the aligning components 220 and 222, it can be guaranteed that correct printing exists between the cassette and the printing mechanism so that good print quality can be achieved. In particular, the occurrence of skews can be avoided.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the side of the holder 217c comprises a surface 236 provided between the first and second parts for clamping the aligning components 200 and 202. The surface 236 is arranged to guide the image-receiving medium in cooperation with the corresponding surface 231 on the fourth side 16 between the first and second aligning components. While the aligning components 200 and 202 are included in the corresponding parts for clamping the aligning components 220 and 222, the image-receiving tape is guided through a path defined by the surface 230 of the holder, surface 231 of the cassette and the aligning components 200 and 202. The surface 236 of the container guides the tape parallel to surface 231 of the cassette.
    In one embodiment of the present invention, one or both of the parts for receiving the aligning components exhibit a pair of separate electrical contacts 224. The corresponding or both aligning components 200 and 202 are each provided with an electrical contact 226 (see Figure 1). ). The electrical contact 226 is controlled to close the circuit between the resp. pairs of electrical contacts 224. This closes a circuit 6 which is schematically shown in Figure 6. The circuit has, for example, a current or voltage source 228. A detector 230 is also located in the circuit. When the contact 226 extends between the two contacts 224, the detector 230 detects that the circuit has been closed by detecting a voltage or current and provides a control output. This control output can be routed to a controller 232. In one embodiment of the present invention, the controller 232 prevents the label printer from printing until it has received the detection signal from the detector 230 indicating that the cassette has been correctly inserted into the cassette-receiving dock. In some embodiments, the controller allows printing only when a signal associated with both aligning components is detected. Another possibility is that a signal from any of the detectors can be used to check or can be printed. Alternatively, a single detection circuit may be provided in which there is one electrical contact in each aligning component that receives a portion, and the detecting circuit detects whether a conductive track on the cassette closes the aligning circuit between the aligning components 200 and 202.
    In some embodiments of the present invention, a detection control is connected to each of the aligning component-receiving parts and the cycle is divided by both detection controls.
    It should be noted that in some embodiments of the present invention, this detection control can be omitted.
    In other embodiments of the present invention, a different detection mechanical can be used.
    In other embodiments of the present invention, other mechanisms may be used to detect whether the aligning components are included within the corresponding portion accommodating the aligning components. By way of example, the parts receiving the aligning components may include a mechanical switch that is switched when the aligning components are in position and received by the parts receiving the aligning components.
    In another embodiment, use can be made of an optical control. By way of example, the aligning component can be controlled to block an optical path between a light source, for example an LED, and a corresponding detector, when the aligning component is included in the corresponding aligning part.
    In the embodiments described above, the aligning components 200 and 202 are described as being included in corresponding parts accommodating the aligning components, the detection control being connected to the aligning components and the parts receiving the aligning components. In another embodiment of the present invention, the detection control can be provided on surface 236. This surface 236 can be provided with a mechanism for detecting when the tape or the image-receiving medium is in contact with it. This mechanism may be any suitable mechanism and may include, for example, a pressure switch, such as a mechanically activated pressure switch. This may occur in addition to the detection mechanisms described above, or in its place.
    In the aforementioned mechanisms, a detection mechanism has been described as providing for each of the aligning component receiving parts. In one embodiment of the present invention, the detection mechanism may be provided in only one of the parts receiving the aligning components.
    Label printers in accordance with the present invention can be used with a set of cassettes of different widths. The different widths of the cassettes may therefore contain different-wide image-receiving media. That is, the cassettes exhibit a different distance between the aligning components of the cassette since the width of the tape that passes beyond the aligning components is different. For smaller widths of tape, the aligning components are closer to each other, while for larger widths of tape, the aligning components are further apart. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present invention, the parts receiving the aligning components are positioned and dimensioned such that the parts receiving the aligning components are capable of receiving the aligning components of cassettes of different widths. In another embodiment of the present invention, different pairs of aligning components are provided for each or for a subset of the different distances between the aligning components. In one embodiment of the present invention, the position of the aligning components in the portions receiving the aligning components is detected by the label printer and the label printer provides information across the width of the image receiving medium.
    Embodiments of the present invention have been described with a movable cover. It should be noted that other embodiments do not have this movable lid 28.
    In another embodiment of the cassette, the aligning components are arranged to clamp on the printhead where the printhead is arranged to move.
    As another possibility or additionally, the aligning components on the cassette may be openings instead of protrusions.
    As another possibility or additionally, the aligning components may be provided at a different location on the cassette. Embodiments of the present invention may be used as an alternative or additional means to determine whether any suitable component of the label printer or of the cassette itself moving relative to the cassette after the cassette is inserted is in the correct position relative to of the cassette. By way of example, the component may be a lid of a cassette receiving dock with this lid moving toward the cassette after the cassette is inserted. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to determine whether the lid is in a correct position with respect to the cassette.
    We now refer to Figure 8a. The cassette 40 docking station has a fixed print head 212 and a platen 210. The platen 210 is arranged to be rotatable about its axis. The platen is also arranged to be movable in the direction of the print head 212. The print head 212 is arranged to be received in the print zone 18 of the cassette. The image receiving medium and the ink ribbon are arranged to overlap each other between the print head 212 and the platen 210. The print zone is therefore defined between the print head 212 and the platen 210.
    In this embodiment, the print head 212 is fixed in its position and the platen is movable. However, in other embodiments of the present invention, the platen may be fixed in position so that it can only move about its axis, for example, when the printhead moves between a printing and a non-printing position. In yet another embodiment, both the printhead and the platen can be arranged to move one to the other so that they can be moved from a non-printing position to a printing position by way of example.
    Also provided in the cassette receiving dock is a first ink ribbon component 326 and a second ink ribbon component 328. The first ink ribbon component 326 is arranged to clamp the ink ribbon supply spool while the second ink ribbon component 328 is arranged to clamp the ink ribbon take-up spool . One or both of the ink ribbon components can be driven in such a way that they move the ink ribbon forward and / or in the reverse direction.
    As can be seen, the cassette receiving dock has a cover 80 which controls the movement of the platen in the direction of the print head. When the lid 80 is open, the platen and the print head are separated so that a cassette can be easily inserted. However, when the lid is closed, the platen is moved toward the print head.
    The movement of the cassette cover will now be described in more detail. We now refer to Figure 10. The cover 28 has an opening 32. The opening 32 is controlled when the cover is in its closed position to clamp a locking protrusion 34 of the cassette. The protrusion 34 encloses the opening 32 in the cover in which it is received, and thus prevents the cover from being opened when the cassette is outside the label printer. The protrusion 34 is provided on a substantially flat component 38 which generally extends parallel to the lid. The component 38 is made of a resilient material so that it is generally pushed into the position shown in FIG. As a further possibility or in addition, the component 38 itself may be supported or mounted in such a way that the protrusion 34 is pushed into the position shown in Figure 10. In this scenario, the component 38 can be relatively stiff. As an alternative or additional feature, the protrusion itself may consist of a resilient material.
    We now refer to Figures 8, 11 and 12 which show parts of the printer labels that are arranged to cause the lid component to be unlocked. In particular, Figure 8a shows a cassette receiving dock 40. On the side 42 of the cassette receiving dock facing the cover, there is an unlocking mechanism 50 for unlocking the cover. A perspective view of this mechanism is shown in Figure 11, while a cross-section of this mechanism is shown along the line F - F in Figure 12. The unlocking mechanism 50 has a sliding component 52 that is controlled to move relative to a housing 60 The sliding component 52 is configured to move in the direction of the arrow C. This direction is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lid. The sliding component 52 moves in the same forward and reverse directions as the lid. The housing 60 is fixed in position in the tape printer and does not move.
    The sliding component 52 has an opening 53 through which an unlocking component 54 extends. When the unlocking mechanism 50 is in the cassette-receiving dock, the unlocking component 54 extends through the opening 53 and extends into the cassette-receiving dock 40. The unlocking component 54 is arranged to unlock the lid 28 in the cassette. The unlocking component is pushed to the position in which the unlocking component extends through the opening 53. This can be realized as a result of the material of which the unlocking component consists and / or as a result of the way in which the unlocking component 54 is supported. The unlocking component 54 can be separate from the main body 55 of the sliding component. The unlocking component 54 is arranged to be mounted on the main body 55 of the sliding component. The unlocking component 54 may consist of the same material as the main body 55, or of a different material.
    The interaction of the lid of the cassette and the dock of the label printer accommodating a cassette are described in more detail below.
    Reference is made to Figure 13, which shows the unlocking mechanism 50, and in particular the unlocking component 54, which extends into the cassette-receiving dock 40. Figure 13 shows the cassette-receiving dock in front of a cassette in the cassette-receiving dock has been introduced. When the cassette is inserted, the unlocking component 54 deviates in the direction of the arrow D, so that the unlocking component no longer extends into the dock accommodating a cassette. The sliding component is in its initial position and the main body of the sliding component is not moved. The area behind the unlocking mechanism 50 of the label printer has an opening 57 (shown in Figure 14). This opening 57 is configured in such a way that when the unlocking component 54 is moved in the direction of the arrow D, at least a part of the unlocking component 54 can be received in this opening 57. The unlocking component 54 is mounted / mounted in such a way that the unlocking component 54 is sufficiently flexible for it to move in the direction of the arrow D.
    We now refer to Figure 14. This shows that the cassette was inserted in the cassette-receiving dock but was not yet fully incorporated in the cassette-receiving dock. The cassette can be recorded for two thirds by way of example. The unlocking component 54 is shown as extended into the opening 57 of the label printer. This insertion of the cassette moves the unlocking component 54 from the cassette-receiving dock in such a way that the cassette can be inserted into the cassette-receiving dock. In this position, the unlocking component 54 presses on the outer surface of the lid 28. Unlike FIG. 13, the cassette is now partially shown.
    We now refer to figure 15. The cassette is now fully incorporated in the dock accommodating a cassette. The unlocking component 54 has been moved back to the position in which the unlocking component 54 protrudes into the dock accommodating a cassette. However, since the cassette is now in the cassette-receiving dock, the unlocking component 54 is now aligned with the opening 32 of the lid 28. The unlocking component 54 is therefore arranged to protrude through the opening 32 around the locking projection 34 to move in a direction toward the interior of the cassette and away from the cover. The locking protrusion 34 no longer encloses the opening of the lid 32, and the lid can be moved. However, the unlocking component 54 is now clamped with the lid 32 so that when the sliding component 32 is moved, the lid 28 will move along with the sliding component.
    Before starting to pull on the unlocking component on the lid 32, it must be checked whether the unlocking component does not move into the opening 57. To that end, the dimensions of the opening 32 in the lid are such that the unlocking component 54 can first move over such a distance that the unlocking component does not move into the opening 57 before it interacts with the side of the opening 32 to pull on the lid. This ensures that the unlocking component 54 does not move into the opening 57 as it begins to pull on the lid.
    Referring now to Figure 16, which shows that the cassette cover is now in the open configuration, while the cassette is in the cassette receiving dock. The unlocking component 54 is thus clamped with the opening 32 of the lid. Accordingly, when the sliding component is moved in the direction of the arrow E, the cover is also moved in the direction of the arrow E. By this movement, the cover moves along the plane of side 30, from the dock accommodating a cassette and into the label printer. The cover is moved in the direction away from the print zone of the cassette and, consequently, when in the open position a part of the cover of the cassette will be received outside the dock accommodating a cassette, in the label printer.
    It should be noted that the sliding component is guided through the housing 60, the dimensions of which are such that it allows the sliding mechanism to move in the direction of the arrow C (see Figure 11). The housing 60 defines a pair of guide rails 62 that guide the movement of the sliding component 52. The sliding component has correspondingly shaped stepped components 64 that clamp the guide rail so that the sliding component is controlled to move in a defined path. The movement of the sliding component can be mechanically controlled or controlled by a motor.
    In one embodiment, the movement of the sliding component is mechanically controlled by a cover 80 of the cassette receiving dock. When the lid 80 of the cassette receiving dock closes, the sliding component 52 is moved in the direction of the arrow C. In one embodiment, the sliding component 52 is mechanically coupled to the lid 28 so that when the lid 80 of the cassette receiving dock is closed, the lid 28 of the cassette is open. Similarly, when the lid 80 of the cassette receiving dock is open, the lid 28 of the cassette is closed.
    As another possibility or additionally, the sliding component moves against the force of a spring or other pushing component. The spring is inside the label printer and is not in the cassette-receiving dock. In one embodiment, the spring is located in the label printer behind the sliding component and the housing, outside the cassette receiving dock. The spring is positioned in such a way that it pushes the slider to the position shown in Figure 8a and which corresponds to the cover of the cassette in the closed position. Accordingly, when the cover 80 of the cassette receiving dock is opened, the cover 28 of the cassette is forced to the closed position by the sliding component 52, the sliding component being moved by the pushing spring.
    In another embodiment of the present invention, the movement of the lid 28 can be caused by a motor. The motor can be controlled in such a way that when the printer is ready to print, the sliding component 52 is moved to the open position.
    We now refer to Figure 17 which shows the bottom of the lid 28. A portion of the lid is received in the label printer, outside the cassette receiving dock, when the lid 28 is in the open position. This portion of the lid 28 is located at the opposite end to the portion of the lid 28 that covers the ink ribbon and the image receiving medium. In the embodiment shown, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) 70 is provided. The EEPROM is placed on a PCB (printed circuit board) 71 which is attached to the inside of the cover 28 by means of heat. This EEPROM can store information about the print cartridge that can be used to check the parameters of the label printer. By way of example only, these parameters include one or more of: information about the image-receiving medium, the dimensions of the label medium, if the image-receiving medium is in the form of separate labels: information relating to the separate labels, information about the color of the image-receiving medium, information about the material of the image-receiving medium, the color of the ink ribbon, information to check the energy of the print head, information to check the pressure of the print head, template information with with respect to the image-receiving medium, amount consumed from the image-receiving medium, residual amount of the image-receiving medium, or any useful information.
    To read the EEPROM 70, the label printer is provided with contacts with corresponding contacts 73 on the PVB 71 on which the EEPROM 70 is mounted to allow the EEPROM to read.
    As can be seen in Figure 17, the bottom of the lid includes a rib 160 defining the maximum distance that the lid can be moved toward the opening. This rib extends in the width of the cassette. Once the locking protrusion 34 is lifted out of the opening 32 and the lid is moved, the locking protrusion presses on the inside of the lid. The rib 160 on the inside of the lid interacts with the locking protrusion 34 when the lid is in the maximum open position. The inside of the lid also has a pair of parallel longitudinal guide rails which guide the movement of the locking protrusion 34 so as to also guide the movement of the lid.
    It should be noted that an EEPROM was used in this embodiment. However, any method of providing information can be used. For example, an RF (radio frequency) tag, a barcode, or a pattern of contacts may be provided that provides information in the form of, for example, a binary code; one or more link pieces.
    We now refer to Figure 8b which shows the general cycle for checking the label printer. There is a microprocessor chip 300. In practice, there can also be more than one chip. This chip is schematically represented as having a read-out memory 302, a processing section 301 and memory capacity with random access, schematically referred to as RAM 304. However, this is only by way of example and different memory and processing controls can be used in other embodiments. The microprocessor chip (s) is (are) arranged to receive information about the labels from an input device such as a keyboard 330. As an alternative or in addition, the data input device may have a touch screen and / or a data port (e.g. a USB port), arranged to obtain information from a PC or similar.
    The microprocessor chip (s) 300 is (are) arranged to output data to control a display 310 by means of a display control program 309. The display can display a label to be printed (or a part thereof) and / or a message for a user.
    The display may, for example, be an LCD screen or a touch screen. The ability to control the display can be provided as an element of the microprocessor chip (s).
    The microprocessor chip (s) is also arranged to output data to control the print head 212 so that label data is printed on the image-receiving medium to form a label.
    The microprocessor chip (s) may also be able to control a motor 307 for driving the image-receiving medium.
    Finally, the microprocessor chip (s) can also check a cutting mechanism 358 to allow a length of the tape to be cut. In other embodiments of the present invention, another manual cutting machine may be provided.
    In one embodiment of the present invention, the label printer is a stand-alone printer. This stand-alone printer can work independently or can be connected to receive information from a PC. In other embodiments of the present invention, the label printer can be a PC printer and in that case the keyboard and display can be omitted since data can be entered and displayed on the PC. The PC then acts as an input device for the printer.
    The present invention may include any feature or combination of features as discussed in this text, implicitly or explicitly, or any generalization thereof, without limiting the scope of any of the claims mentioned. In view of the foregoing description, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.
    权利要求:
    Claims (26)
    [1]
    A cassette for a label printer comprising: a stock of an image receiving medium; and a pair of aligning components which are arranged to guide said image-receiving medium therebetween and which are configured, in use, to clamp in with a printer of a label printer.
    [2]
    A cassette as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cassette comprises a housing with first and second opposite surfaces and first, second, third and fourth sides extending between said first and second surfaces.
    [3]
    A cassette according to claim 2, wherein said aligning components are provided on one of said sides.
    [4]
    A cassette according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said aligning components are arranged to protrude from said one side.
    [5]
    A cassette according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said aligning components are provided adjacent to an output for said image receiving medium from said cassette.
    [6]
    A cassette as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cassette comprises a printing zone that is in use configured to receive a printing device from a label printer.
    [7]
    A cassette according to claim 6, wherein said aligning components are provided adjacent to said printing zone.
    [8]
    A cassette according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said printing device comprises one of a platen, a platen supporting component, a print head, and a component supporting the print head.
    [9]
    A cassette according to claim 8, wherein said printing device comprises a pair of the alignment supporting recording components formed around said resp. to include aligning components.
    [10]
    A cassette according to any of the preceding claims, comprising means for activating a detector in a label printer when said aligning components are in a clamping state with a printing device.
    [11]
    A cassette according to claim 10, wherein said means for activating a detector is provided on or at at least one of said aligning components.
    [12]
    A cassette according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said means for activating comprises an electrical contact.
    [13]
    A cassette according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said means comprises means for activating at least one switch.
    [14]
    A cassette according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said means comprises means for interrupting a light path.
    [15]
    A cassette according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a movable component with a first open position and a second closed position.
    [16]
    A cassette according to claim 15, wherein said aligning components are arranged to come into contact with said movable component.
    [17]
    A cassette according to claim 15, wherein said movable component includes first and second alignment clamps for clamps said first and second alignment components.
    [18]
    A cassette according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said movable component comprises a cover provided on one of said sides, movable between a first position in which said printing medium is exposed for printing and a second position in which the said print medium is protected.
    [19]
    A cassette according to claim 18, wherein said cover, when it is in said second position, is clamped with said aligning components.
    [20]
    A cassette according to claim 19, wherein one of said cover and said cassette contains an opening and the other of said cover and said cassette comprises a protrusion, said opening and said protrusion being clampable together locking the lid in one of said first and second positions.
    [21]
    A cassette according to claim 20, wherein said protrusion is configured to be moved between a first extended position in which said protrusion is clamped in said opening, and a second extended position in which said protrusion is not clamped in said opening so that said cover can be moved from one of said first and second positions to the other of said first and second positions.
    [22]
    22. In combination, a label printer and a cassette according to any of the preceding claims.
    [23]
    A label printer comprising: a cassette receiving dock for receiving a cassette; a printing device disposed in said cassette-receiving dock, said printing device comprising means for clamping a pair of aligning components of said cassette when said cassette is located in said cassette-receiving dock.
    [24]
    A printer according to claim 23, comprising detection means for detecting whether said aligning components are in a clamping condition with said printing device.
    [25]
    A printer according to claim 23 or 24, wherein said printing device is controlled in such a way that said printing device is prevented from printing in the absence of said aligning components that enclose said printing device.
    [26]
    A printer according to any of claims 23 to 25, wherein said printing device configured to clamp the pair of said aligning components one of a platen, a platen supporting component, a printhead and a printhead supporting component.
    类似技术:
    公开号 | 公开日 | 专利标题
    EP2246197B1|2012-08-22|Cassette for use in a label printer
    US7712984B2|2010-05-11|Hybrid printer
    US7563044B2|2009-07-21|Identifying compatible combination for a thermal printer
    WO2013039139A1|2013-03-21|Tape cassette and printed label-making system
    BE1019946A3|2013-03-05|CASSETTE FOR USE IN A LABEL PRINTER.
    BE1020019A5|2013-04-02|CASSETTE FOR USE IN A LABEL PRINTER.
    CA2673397C|2015-06-02|Printing apparatus
    BE1019947A3|2013-03-05|CASSETTE FOR USE IN A LABEL PRINTER.
    US6092946A|2000-07-25|Tape printing apparatus and tape holding case with a sliding switch
    BE1020169A5|2013-06-04|CASSETTE FOR USE IN A LABEL PRINTER.
    CN112123957A|2020-12-25|Printing apparatus
    CN107020848B|2020-11-10|Ink ribbon, ink ribbon cartridge, and printer
    CN112140751A|2020-12-29|Box
    CN112140752A|2020-12-29|Box
    JP2008257284A|2008-10-23|Recording medium identification device
    JP2004164355A|2004-06-10|Bankbooks dealing device
    JP2008103038A|2008-05-01|Optical disk duplicate device
    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    GB201007082D0|2010-06-09|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    JP2002127533A|2000-10-23|2002-05-08|Dainippon Printing Co Ltd|Thermal transfer ribbon cassette|
    EP1707395A1|2005-03-30|2006-10-04|Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha|Tape cassette|
    WO2007057779A2|2005-10-25|2007-05-24|Dymo|Tape printing apparatus|
    GB2459531A|2008-04-29|2009-11-04|Dymo Nv|Label printer having cassette engagement detection means|
    EP2415611A1|2009-03-31|2012-02-08|Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha|Tape unit and tape cassette|
    EP2246197A1|2009-04-28|2010-11-03|Dymo|Cassette for use in a label printer|
    法律状态:
    2013-04-30| RE| Patent lapsed|Effective date: 20121031 |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    GB201007082A|GB201007082D0|2010-04-28|2010-04-28|Cassette for use in a label printer|
    GB201007082|2010-04-28|
    [返回顶部]