• 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 is provided. The label printer comprises at least one supply of print medium and a housing in which said image-receiving medium is received. The label printer further comprises a lid that is controlled in use to move between a first and a second position and a clamping component to clamp said printing medium. The clamping component is arranged to have a first mode in which said printing medium is clamped and a second mode in which said printing medium can be pulled away from said stock. The mode of the clamping component is controlled by the lid.
    公开号:BE1019947A3
    申请号:E2010/0588
    申请日:2010-10-06
    公开日:2013-03-05
    发明作者:Britsom Dirk Van；Den Broecke Stefaan Van；Kris Vandermeulen；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 the cassette which is recorded in a cassette recording dock of the label printer.
    Some cassettes are arranged in such a way that the image-receiving medium is pulled from the cassette to a print zone defined by a print head and a platen of the label printer. Printing on the image receiving medium is done in the print zone. In some cassettes, a print zone is provided to accommodate at least a portion of the print head or platen. Some cassettes may have an opening that allows the image-receiving medium to exit the housing of the cassette on one side of the print zone, extend through the print zone, and then completely exit the cassette on the other side of the print zone.
    Some cassettes also contain an ink ribbon. The ink ribbon can then also pass through this printing zone, following a path similar to that of the image receiving medium.
    If the cassette is outside the label printer, the image-receiving medium may become weak due to the user pulling on the tape or due to the general movements of the cassette. This is undesirable: when the cassette is inserted into the label printer, this weakness can negatively influence the quality. In some cases, the image-receiving medium may have gone all the way back into the cassette, making printing impossible.
    In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cassette for a label printer which comprises: at least one supply of the print medium, a housing in which said image-receiving medium is received, a cover which is arranged to be used in use moving between first and second positions, and a clamping component to clamp said print medium, said clamping component being arranged to take a first mode in which said print medium is clamped and a second mode in which said image receiving medium of said stock can be withdrawn, the mode of the clamping component being controlled by the lid.
    In accordance with a second aspect, a label printer is provided that includes: a cassette-receiving dock for recording a cassette; a printhead and a platen that are at least partially provided in said cassette-receiving dock; and a mechanism for operating the cover of the cassette which is at least partially provided in said cassette-receiving dock, for clamping and moving a lid of a cassette when said cassette is in the cassette-receiving dock .
    Hereinafter, by way of example only, some embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a cassette in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the cassette of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a part of the cassette of Figure 1 with more details; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of an unlocking mechanism in a label printer for unlocking a lid of the cartridge of Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the release mechanism of Figure 4, along the line F - F of Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a cassette receiving dock in the label printer; Figure 7 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 8 shows a cross-section of the part of the label printer shown in Figure 7 and the cassette of Figure 1 when the cassette is inserted; Figure 9 shows a cross-section of the part of the label printer shown in Figure 7 and the cassette of Figure 1, with the cover of the cassette in an unlocked configuration; Figure 10 shows a cross-section of the part of the label printer shown in Figure 7 and the cassette of Figure 1, with the lid of the cassette in an open position; Figure 11 shows a perspective view of the cassette of Figure 1, with the lid in the open position; Figure 12 shows the underside of the part of the lid that is designated A in Figure 11; Figure 13 schematically shows parts of a label printer; Figure 14 shows a cut-away view of a cassette; Figure 15 shows a platen locking component, as well as the lid where the platen locking component is located in a locked position with the platen roller locked; Figure 16 shows the platen locking component of Figure 15 in an unlocked position so that the platen can move; Figure 17 shows a perspective view of the bottom of the cassette-receiving dock showing the platen locking component in the unlocking position; Figure 18 shows in detail the interaction between the platen locking component with the platen supporting component in the locking position; Figure 19 shows a view of the bottom of the cassette cover; Figure 20a shows an enlarged view of the clamping component of the cassette in a clamping position; and Figure 20b shows an enlarged view of the clamping component of the cassette in the non-clamping position.
    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 and label printers in accordance with the present invention are described below, with reference to the accompanying figures.
    Referring in particular to Figure 1, the cassette 2 has a housing 4. The housing 4 is arranged to hold a supply of an image-receiving medium 6 and an ink ribbon 8. The ink ribbon 8 is provided on a spool for supplying ink ribbon 12 and, if in use, is received by the take-up reel for the ink ribbon 10. The image-receiving medium 6 and the ink ribbon 8 are arranged to overlap one another between a printhead 22 which presses against a rotatable platen 24. The printhead 22 and the platen can be seen in Figure 6.
    In this embodiment, the printhead 22 is fixed in its position and the movable platen is not only able to rotate about its axis but also to move between a non-printing position in which the platen is kept at a distance from the printhead, and a printing position in which the platen 24 presses against the printhead 22. It should be noted that in other embodiments of the present invention, the platen can be fixed in position, so that it can only move about its axis, for example, and the print head moves between a printing and a non-printing position. In yet another embodiment, both the print head 22 and the platen 24 can be controlled to move one to the other so that they can move from a non-printing position to a printing position by way of example.
    The printhead 22 is arranged to, when the cassette is in the cassette-receiving dock, be included in a print zone 16 in the cassette. This print zone is visible in Figures 1 and 2. The print head 22 is arranged to be received in the print zone 16 with the image receiving medium and the ink ribbon overlapping each other between the print head 22 and the platen 24. A print zone is therefore provided between the printhead 22 and the platen 24.
    The ink ribbon 8 is taken from the reel for supplying ink ribbon 12 and, after passing through the printing zone, is taken up by the take-up reel for the ink ribbon 10. As can be seen in Fig. 2, the housing of the cassette has a first aperture 20 aligned with the ink ribbon supply spool. This first opening is provided on the bottom of the cassette and is arranged to receive a first component 25 which is provided in the cassette receiving dock. The bottom of the cassette has a second opening 18 which is aligned with the take-up reel for the ink ribbon 10. This second opening 18 is arranged to receive a second component 26 provided in the cassette-receiving dock. These first and second components 25 and 26 clamp the reel for supplying ink ribbon 12 and the take-up reel for the ink ribbon 10. One or both of the clamping components 25 and 26 can be driven in such a way that they feed the ink ribbon 8 forward and / or in move in the opposite direction.
    A lid 28 is provided on a lid side 30 of the cassette 2. The lid side 30 is one of the four sides extending between an upper surface 31 and a lower surface 29. These four sides are parallel to the axes defined by the first and second components and the axis about which the stock of the image-receiving medium 104 and the stock of the ink ribbon 12 rotate. The side of the lid 30 is the side with an opening 33 through which the image-receiving medium 6 and the ink ribbon leave the cassette 2. The side of the lid 30 is the side that generally defines the print zone and which (with the lid 28) defines an output 35 of the cassette. The lid 28 is controlled to move along the plane of the side 30 between a closed position shown in Figure 2 and an open position shown in Figure 11. The lid is therefore controlled to move in the plane from side 30, in the direction of the arrow B. The lid 28 is arranged to move back and forth along the longitudinal direction of the side 30.
    When the lid 28 is in the closed position, the image-receiving medium 6 and the ink ribbon 8 next to the printing zone 16 are covered and thus protected from exposure to foreign objects. When the cover 28 is open, as shown in Figure 11, the image-receiving medium 6 and the ink ribbon 8 are exposed so that the platen 24 can come into contact with the image-receiving medium 6 when it is pressed against the printhead 22, so that can be printed.
    The movement of the lid 28 will now be described in more detail. We hereby refer to figure 3 which shows a part of the cassette 2 of figure 1 with more details. The lid 30 has an opening 32. The opening 32 is controlled when the lid 28 is in its closed position to clamp a locking protrusion 34 of the cassette 2. The protrusion 34 encloses the opening 32 in the lid 28 in which it is received, and thus prevents the lid 28 from being opened when the cassette 2 is outside the label printer. The protrusion can also clamp step 36 of the lid 28 when received in opening 32.
    The protrusion 34 is provided on a substantially flat component 38 which generally extends parallel to the side of the lid 30. 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 3. In this scenario, the component 38 can be relatively stiff. As an alternative or additional possibility, the protrusion 34 itself may consist of a resilient material.
    The component 38 is supported at one end 101 on the end of the side of the lid 30, remote from the output 35 of the cassette. The component 38 is arranged to also exert a clamping action with respect to the image-receiving medium. The component 38 is, at the end 100 opposite the supported end 101, arranged to press against a conductive post 102. The image receiving medium is pulled out of the tape stock 104 and passes between the end 100 of the component 38 and the conductive post 102 when no clamping of the image-receiving medium 6 is offered. This is shown enlarged in Figure 20b. When the component 38 provides a clamping force, the image-receiving medium 6 is clamped between the component 38 and the conductive post 102. This is shown enlarged in Figure 20a.
    The component 38 is controlled so as to assume a first encapsulating mode and a second encapsulating mode. In the first clamping mode of Figure 20a, the component 38 is arranged to press against the conductive post 102, to clamp the image-receiving medium 6 between the end 100 of the component 38 and the conductive post 102. In the second clamping mode 20b, the component 38 is still in contact with the image-receiving medium 6, but the force possibly exerted by the component 38 is reduced so that the image-receiving medium 5 can be pulled out of the supply 104. In the second encapsulating mode, the component 38 and the conductive post 102 provide a conductive function for the image-receiving medium 6 when the image-receiving medium 6 is pulled out of the supply 104.
    In another embodiment there is no contact between the component 38 and the image-receiving medium 6, or a limited contact, in the second encapsulating mode.
    We now refer to Figure 14 which shows a cut-away view of a cassette 2 according to the present invention. The cassette 2 comprises a first part 202 and a second part 204. The first part 202 and the second part 204 define the housing 4 of the cassette.
    The cassette 2 is arranged to house the stock of the image-receiving medium 6. As can be determined, the image-receiving medium 6 is provided on a coil 212. The coil 212 is arranged with respect to coil-enclosing components 216, provided in the first portion 202. Similar coil-enclosing components can be provided in the second portion 204. This spool-enclosing components 216 are arranged to fit within the spool 212 to position the spool 212 in the cassette 2. The coil clamping components 216 are positioned in such a way that the coil with the image-receiving medium 212 is held in place but the coil 212 is arranged to rotate around the coil-clamping components 216. In another embodiment, the image-receiving medium is not provided on a spool but wrapped around itself.
    The cassette 2 is also provided with the lid 28. The component 38 has the first locking protrusion 34 which is arranged to clamp the opening 32 of the lid 32 to hold the lid in the closed position. The cassette 2 also has a sub-assembly 214 that supports the take-up spool for the ink ribbon 10 and the spool for the supply of ink ribbon 12.
    We now refer to Figures 4, 5 and 6 which show parts of the label printer that are controlled to cause the lid component 28 to be unlocked. In particular, Figure 6 shows a cassette-receiving dock 40. On the side 42 of the cassette-receiving dock 40 facing the lid 28, there is an unlocking mechanism 50 for unlocking the lid 28. A perspective view of this mechanism is shown in Figure 4, while a cross-section of this mechanism is shown along the line F - F in Figure 5. The unlocking mechanism 50 has a sliding component 52 which 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 28. The sliding component 52 moves in the same forward and reverse directions as the lid 28. The housing 60 is fixed 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 protrudes through the opening and extends into the cassette accommodating dock. The unlocking component 54 is controlled to control the unlocking of the lid 28 in the cassette 2. The unlocking component 54 is pushed to the position in which the unlocking component 54 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 may be separate from a main body 55 of the sliding component 52. The unlocking component 54 is arranged to be mounted on the main body 55 of the sliding component 52. The unlocking component 54 may consist of the same material as the main body 55 , or from another material.
    The interaction of the lid 28 of the cassette 2 and the dock 40 of the label printer are described in more detail below.
    Reference is made to Figure 7, which shows the unlocking mechanism 50, and in particular the unlocking component 54, which extends into the cassette 40 docking station. Figure 7 shows the cassette 40 docking in front of a cassette in the cassette accommodating a cassette. dock 40 has been introduced. When inserting the cassette 2, the unlocking component 54 deviates in the direction of the arrow D, which is such that it no longer extends into the dock accommodating a cassette. The zone behind the unlocking mechanism 50 of the label printer has an opening 57. 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 portion of the unlocking component 54 in this opening 57 can be received. The sliding component is in its initial position and the main body of the sliding component is not moved. 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 8. This shows that the cassette 2 was inserted into the dock 40 accommodating a cassette but was not yet fully recorded. The cassette 2 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 2 moves the unlocking component 54 from the cassette 40 dock 40 in such a way that the cassette 2 can be inserted into the cassette 40 dock 40. In contrast to Figure 7, the cassette is now partially shown.
    We now refer to Figure 9. The cassette 2 is now fully incorporated in the dock 40 accommodating a cassette. The unlocking component 54 has been moved back to the position in which the unlocking component 54 protrudes into a dock 40 accommodating a cassette. However, since the cassette is now in the cassette 40 docking station, the unlocking component 54 is now aligned with the opening 32 of the cover 28. The unlocking component 54 is therefore arranged to protrude through the opening 32 to move the locking projection 34 in a direction toward the interior of the cassette 2 and away from the cover 28. The locking projection 34 the opening of the lid 32 is no longer clamped, and the lid 28 can be moved. However, the unlocking component 54 is now clamped with the cover 32 so that when the sliding component 32 is moved, the cover 28 will move along with the sliding component 52.
    It should be noted that at this time the image-receiving medium 6 is still clamped. A cover 80 of the dock 40 accommodating a cassette is still completely open in FIG.
    Before starting to pull on the unlocking component 54 on the lid 28 in opening 32, it must be checked whether the unlocking component 54 does not move into the opening 57. For this purpose, the dimensions of the opening 32 are in the lid 28 such that the unlocking component 54 can first move over such a distance that the unlocking component 54 does not move into the opening 57 before it interacts with the side of the opening 32 to pull on the lid 28. This ensures that the unlocking component 54 does not move into the opening 57 as it begins to pull on the lid 28.
    We hereby refer to figure 12 which shows that the cover 28 of the cassette 2 is moved to the open position. The lid 28 is not completely in the open configuration. The tape is still clamped because longitudinal ribs 110 of the lid 28 are still interacting with protrusion 112 on component 38. The unlocking component 54 is thus clamped with the opening 32 of the lid. Accordingly, when the sliding component 52 is moved in the direction of the arrow E, the cover 28 of the cassette 2 is also moved in the direction of the arrow E. By this movement, the cover 28 moves along the plane of side 30, out the dock 40 accommodating a cassette and into the body of the label printer. The lid 28 is moved in the direction away from the print zone of the cassette 2 and, consequently, when in the open position a part of the lid of the cassette will be received in the label printer but outside the dock 40 accommodating a cassette.
    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. The housing 60 defines a pair of guide rails 62 that control the movement of the sliding component 52. The sliding component has correspondingly shaped stepped components 64 that clamp the guide rail 62 so that the sliding component 52 is controlled to move in a defined path. The movement of the sliding component 52 can be mechanically controlled or controlled by a motor.
    In one embodiment, the movement of the sliding component 52 is mechanically controlled by the lid 80 of the cassette-receiving dock 40. When the lid 80 of the cassette-receiving dock 40 closes, the sliding component 52 is moved toward the arrow C. In one embodiment, the sliding component 52 is mechanically coupled to the lid of the cassette-receiving dock 80 so that when the lid of the cassette-receiving dock 40 is closed, the lid 28 of the cassette 2 is open. Similarly, when the cover of the cassette-receiving dock 80 is open, the cover 28 of the cassette 2 is closed.
    As another possibility or additionally, the sliding component 52 moves against the force of a spring 66 or other pushing component. The spring 66 is located inside the label printer and is not in the cassette 40 docking station. In one embodiment, the spring 66 is located in the label printer behind the sliding component 52 and the housing 60. The spring 66 is positioned in such a manner that it pushes the slider 52 to the position shown in Figure 6 and which corresponds to the lid 28 of the cassette 2 in the closed position. Accordingly, when the cover 80 of the cassette-receiving dock 40 is opened, the cover 28 of the cassette 2 is forced to the closed position by the sliding component 52, the sliding component 52 being moved by the pushing spring 66.
    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.
    In Figure 12, the lid 80 of the cassette 40 docking station 40 is moved to the closed position but has not yet reached the fully closed position. At this point, the image-receiving medium 6 is still clamped between the end of the component 38 and the conductive post 102. The inside of the lid 28 of the cassette 2 shown in Figure 19 has a pair of conductive surfaces 110 provided by a pair ribs 111 extending along the portion of the length of the lid 28. The conductive surfaces 110 interact with a clamping protrusion 112 of the component 38. The clamping protrusion 112 can be provided at any suitable location and in the embodiment provided in In the figures, the clamping protrusion 112 is provided adjacent to the locking protrusion 34, on the side of the locking protrusion 34 far to the end 101 of the component 38. When the clamping protrusion 112 acts against the conductive surface 110, the end 100 becomes the component 38 is pressed against the post 102 with sufficient force so that the image-receiving medium 6 is clamped. As the lid 28 of the receptacle 2 is moved from the open position to the substantially closed position, the clamping protrusion 112 acts against the conductive surface to provide clamping force for the image-receiving medium 6.
    We now refer to Figure 10 which shows the control when the cover of the cassette-receiving dock 80 is fully closed and to Figure 20b which shows part of the cassette 2 with the clamp in a non-clamping position. In one embodiment of the present invention, the clamping of the image-receiving medium 6 is only stopped when the cover 80 of the cassette 40 dock 40 is completely closed. In FIGS. 10 and 20b, the clamping of the image-receiving medium 6 was terminated. As can be seen in Figure 20b, the clamping protrusion 112 is moved from an inclined surface 116 toward the lid 28 of the cassette 2 and away from the supply 104 of the image-receiving medium. The function of this is that this allows the clamping protrusion 112 to reduce the pressure exerted by the end 100 of the resilient component 38 against the conductive post 102 so that the image-receiving medium 6 is no longer clamped and out of stock 104 can be drawn.
    As can be seen in Figure 19, the bottom of the lid includes a rib 160 defining the maximum distance that the lid 28 can be moved toward the opening. This rib 160 extends into the width of the cassette 2. Once the locking protrusion 34 is lifted out of the opening 32 and the lid 28 is moved, the locking protrusion presses on the inside of the lid 28. The rib 160 on the inside of the lid 289 interacts with the locking protrusion 34 when the lid 28 is in the maximum open position, as can be seen in Figure 20b. The inside of the lid 28 also has a pair of parallel longitudinal guide rails 110 which guide the movement of the locking protrusion 34 so as to also guide the movement of the lid 28.
    The movement of the lid 28 is also controlled to control a platen roller locking component 400, as will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 18. The platen roller locking component 400 is controlled to have a first end 402. The first end 402 is controlled to be activated by the lid 28. When the lid 28 is in the closed position, the first end 402 of the platen roller locking component 400 is in a position whereby the platen roller locking component 400 platen 24 prevents movement in the direction of the print head 22. The platen roller locking component 400 is mounted in such a way that it rotates about a turning point 404. The turning point 404 is between the first end 402 and a second end 406 of the platen roller locking component 400.
    Fig. 15 shows the first end 402 in the position preventing the roller from moving through the second end 406. The first end 402 is arranged to protrude into the part of the label printer that covers the lid 28 when the lid 28 moves is in the open position.
    Initially, as shown in Figures 18 and 15, the second end 406 clamps a stopper 405 of the platen supporting component 408. Since the second end 406 clamps the stopper 405, the platen roller is prevented from moving toward the printhead 22.
    We now refer to Figures 16 and 17 which show the lid 28 in the open position. As can be seen, the lid 28 has moved the first end 402 in the direction of the arrow M, away from the space that the lid 28 accommodates when it is in the open position. When the lid 28 moves the first end 402 in the direction of the arrow M, the second end 406 is moved in the direction of the arrow N, i.e. in a direction opposite to that of the arrow M, about the turning point 404.
    When the lid has moved the first end 402 in the direction of the arrow M, the second end 406 is moved to the position shown in Figures 16 and 17. The second end 406 is moved in the direction of the arrow N, where contact is no longer made with the plug 405 of the platen supporting component 408. Consequently, the platen 24 can then move in the direction of the print head 22. When the lid 28 is opened, the platen 24 can therefore move in the direction of the print head 22. When the lid 28 is closed or when no cassette 2 is present, the platen supporting component 408 is prevented by the stop 405 from moving.
    The platen locking component 400 is pushed into the position in which the platen supporting component 408 is prevented from moving.
    We now refer to Figure 13 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, and an external memory 330. However, this is only by way of example and various memory-er processing arrangements 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. As another possibility or additionally, the data input device may include a touch screen and / or a data port (e.g., a USB port) arranged to obtain information from a PC or the like.
    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 22 so that label data is printed on the image-receiving medium 6 to form a label.
    The microprocessor chip (s) may also be able to control a motor 307 for driving the image-receiving medium 6.
    Finally, the microprocessor chip (s) 300 can also control 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 (20)
    [1]
    A cassette for a label printer comprising: at least one supply of the print medium; a housing in which said image-receiving medium is received; a lid that is controlled to move between first and second positions in use; and a clamping component to clamp said print medium, said clamping component being controlled to have a first mode in which said print medium is clamped and a second mode in which said image-receiving medium can be pulled away from said stock, wherein the mode of the clamping component is controlled by the cover.
    [2]
    A cassette according to claim 1, wherein the cover is arranged in such a way that when the cover is in a first position, the cover is configured to cover said image-receiving medium at a print location of said cassette.
    [3]
    A cassette according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said cover is arranged in such a way that when the cover is in a second position, the cover is configured to expose said image-receiving medium at a print location of said cassette.
    [4]
    A cassette according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said clamping component is in the first mode when the lid is in the first position, and in the second mode when the lid is in the second position.
    [5]
    A cassette according to claim 4, wherein said clamping component is in the first mode when the cover is moved from the first position to the second position.
    [6]
    A cassette according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said cassette comprises a portion with which said clamping component cooperates.
    [7]
    A cassette according to claim 6, wherein said printing medium is configured to pass between the clamping component and said portion.
    [8]
    A cassette according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said portion is fixed.
    [9]
    A cassette according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein said portion comprises a post.
    [10]
    A cassette according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein in the first mode said clamping component is configured to act on this portion in such a way that said printing medium is clamped and in the second mode the said clamping component is configured to allow the print medium to be drawn between the clamping component and that portion.
    [11]
    A cassette according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said clamping component is configured to have a first position in the first mode and a second, different, position in the second mode.
    [12]
    A cassette according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said clamping component comprises a resilient component.
    [13]
    A cassette according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said clamping component is forced to the first mode.
    [14]
    A cassette according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said cover has a control surface that forces the clamping component to its first position.
    [15]
    A cassette according to claim 14 wherein, when the cover is in the second position, the control surface is not in contact with said clamping component.
    [16]
    A cassette according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one supply of the print medium contains at least one of an image receiving medium and an ink ribbon.
    [17]
    A cassette according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the control surface is the surface of at least one rib on an inside of the lid.
    [18]
    A cassette according to claim 17 or 15, wherein the control surface is the surface of two ribs on an inside of the lid.
    [19]
    A label printer in combination with a cassette according to any of the preceding claims.
    [20]
    A label printer comprising: a cassette receiving dock for recording a cassette; a printhead and platen provided at least in part in said cassette-receiving dock; and a mechanism for operating the cover of the cassette which is at least partially provided in said cassette-receiving dock, for clamping and moving a lid of a cassette when said cassette is in the cassette-receiving dock .
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    GB201007070D0|2010-06-09|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    NL7212637A|1971-09-17|1973-03-20|
    US4884159A|1986-11-05|1989-11-28|Tdk Corporation|Braking arrangement in a magnetic tape cassette|
    JPH09109500A|1995-10-18|1997-04-28|Dainippon Printing Co Ltd|Cassette|
    GB2311765A|1996-04-01|1997-10-08|Esselte Nv|Tape holding case|
    JP2002127533A|2000-10-23|2002-05-08|Dainippon Printing Co Ltd|Thermal transfer ribbon 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
    GB201007070|2010-04-28|
    GB201007070A|GB201007070D0|2010-04-28|2010-04-28|Cassette for use in a label printer|
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