• 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 comprising: a stock of the image-receiving medium; a housing for accommodating said image-receiving medium. The housing here has first and second surfaces and at least one side that protrudes between said first and second surfaces. A lid is provided on one of the said sides and has a first position and a second position. When said cassette is included in a label printer, said cover is configured in such a way that, when it is in said first position, it interacts with cassette detecting means of said label printer.
    公开号:BE1020019A5
    申请号:E201000589
    申请日:2010-10-06
    公开日:2013-04-02
    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 comprises a print head which is checked for printing on an image receiving medium or on an auxiliary substance 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.
    When the image-receiving medium and the ink ribbon, if any, pass through the zone of the cassette defined as a printing zone, foreign objects such as dust and dirt may come into contact with the image-receiving medium and / or the ink ribbon, stick to it and dirty it. The subsequent printing using the ink ribbon and the image receiving medium can therefore be of poor quality.
    In accordance with a first aspect, there is provided a cassette for a label printer that includes: a supply of a print medium; a housing for accommodating said printing medium, said housing having first and second surfaces and at least one side protruding between said first and second surfaces; and a cover provided on one of said sides and having a first position and a second position, wherein when said cassette is included in a label printer, said cover is configured in such a way that, if it is located in said label first position, interacts with cassette detecting means of said label printer.
    In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a cassette for a label printer comprising: a stock of the print medium; a housing for accommodating said printing medium, said housing having first and second surfaces and at least one side protruding between said first and second surfaces; and a cover provided on one of said sides and having a first position and a second position, said cover having means that provide information about the cassette that are exposed when the cover is in said second position.
    In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a cassette for a label printer comprising: a stock of the print medium; a housing for accommodating said printing medium, said housing having first and second surfaces and at least one side protruding between said first and second surfaces; and a cover provided on one of said sides, movable along the length of said one side between a first position in which said print medium is exposed for printing and a second position in which said print medium is protected.
    In accordance with another aspect, a label printer cassette is provided that includes: a stock of an image receiving medium arranged to rotate about an axis; a housing in which the stock of the image-receiving medium is received, said housing having first and second surfaces in first and second planes, said first and second surfaces facing each other, and first, second, third and fourth sides which are parallel to the axis of said stock of the image-receiving medium; and a lid, said lid being controlled to move along a length of said first side, parallel to a plane of the first side, said lid being controlled to move between a first closed position and a second open position wherein when said cover is in said open position, the image-receiving medium is exposed at a printing location.
    In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a cassette for a label printer comprising: a stock of the print medium; a housing for accommodating said printing medium, said housing having first and second surfaces and at least one side protruding between said first and second surfaces; and a lid provided on one of said sides, movable between a first position in which said print medium is exposed for printing and a second position in which said print medium is protected.
    In accordance with another aspect, a label printer is provided comprising: a cassette-receiving dock for recording a cassette, said cassette-receiving dock including means for clamping a cover of a cassette when it is located in said cassette accommodating a cassette, and for moving said cover from a first position to a second position.
    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 12a shows the bottom of the lid; Figure 12b shows the part of the printer that interacts with the EEPROM of the lid; 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; and Figure 18 shows in detail the interaction between the platen locking component with the platen supporting component in the locking 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 it is in use, is received by the take-up spool for the ink ribbon 10. When the cassette is inserted into a cassette 40 accommodating a cassette, it is an image receiving medium 6 and the ink ribbon 8 arranged to overlap each other between a printhead 22 that 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 printhead and the platen 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 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 side of the cassette facing the cassette-receiving dock and is arranged to receive a first component 25 provided in the cassette-receiving dock. The bottom of the cassette has a second opening 18 that is aligned with the take-up reel for the ink ribbon. 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 coil for the supply of ink ribbon 12 and the take-up coil for the ink ribbon 10. One or both of the clamping components 25 and 26 can be driven in such a way that they advance the ink ribbon and / or in reverse move direction.
    As shown in Figure 2, a cover 28 is provided on a cover side 30 of the cassette 2. The cover side 30 is one of the four sides extending between a first surface 31 and a second surface 29 and can be seen in Figure 14. This four sides are parallel to the four resp. axes defined by each of the first and second components 25 and 26 and the axes around which the stock of the image-receiving medium 6 and the stock of the ink ribbon 12 rotate. In other words, the four sides are perpendicular to the first and second surfaces. The side of the lid 30 is the side with the opening 33 through which the image-receiving medium and the ink ribbon exit the cassette. The side of the lid 30 is the side that generally defines the print zone and which (with the lid 28) defines the output 35 of the cassette. The lid 28 is arranged to move along the plane of the side 30 between the closed position shown in Figure 2 and the 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. In some embodiments, the cover may move in the width direction of the side, have a rotating motion, or move in a combination of these directions.
    When the lid 28 is in the closed position, the image-receiving medium and the ink ribbon next to the printing zone 16 are covered and thus protected from exposure to foreign objects. When the lid is open, as shown in Figure 11, the image-receiving medium and the ink ribbon are exposed so that the platen can come into contact with the image-receiving medium when it is pressed against the print head so that printing can take place.
    The movement of the lid will now be described in more detail. We hereby refer to figure 3 which shows a part of the cassette of figure 1 with more details. The lid 28 has an opening 32. The opening 32 is controlled when the lid 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 3. 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 Figure 14 which shows a cut-away view of a cassette according to the present invention. The cassette 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 is arranged to accommodate the supply of the image-receiving medium 6. As can be determined, the image-receiving medium is provided on a coil 212. The coil 212 is arranged with respect to coil-enclosing components 216, provided in the first half 202. Similar coil-enclosing components can be provided in the other half 204. This coil-enclosing components 216 are arranged to fit within the spool 212 to position the spool 212 in the cassette. The coil clamping components 216 are positioned in such a way that the coil with the image receiving medium is held in place but the coil is arranged to rotate around the coil clamping components 216.
    The cassette 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 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 to be unlocked. In particular, Figure 6 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 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 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 spring 66 forms part of the connecting mechanism between the valve of the cassette-receiving dock and the sliding component 52. When the valve of the cassette-receiving dock is closed, the portion on one side of the spring 66 rotates and the spring 66 pulls a second rotating portion on the other side of the spring 66 connecting this latter rotating portion to the sliding component so that the sliding component moves as the valve of the cassette receiving dock moves. The spring 66 in this connecting mechanism ensures that if, for any reason, the sliding component cannot be moved, the flap of the cassette receiving dock can still be opened or closed.
    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 7 which shows the unlocking mechanism 50, and in particular the unlocking component 54 which extends into the cassette-receiving dock 40. Figure 7 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 zone behind the unlocking mechanism 50 of the label printer has an opening 57 (shown in Figure 8). 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 8. 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 Figure 7, the cassette is now partially shown.
    We now refer to figure 9. 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.
    We now refer to Figure 10 which shows that the lid of the cassette 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. 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 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 6 and which corresponds to the lid 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 12a 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 77 with corresponding contacts 73 on the PVB 71 on which the EEPROM 70 is mounted to allow the EEPROM to read. As can be noted in Figure 12b, a series of contacts 77 are provided on a PCB 79 in the label printer. When the lid is in the open position, the contacts 73 on the lid are arranged to come into contact with the contacts 77 of the label printer.
    As can be seen in Figure 12a, 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.
    In one embodiment of the present invention, the label printer is configured in such a way that printing is prevented unless the cover is in the correct position. To check this, the position of the lid 28 itself can be detected. In another embodiment of the present invention, the determination of whether the lid is in the correct position can be made when the detector of the label printer is connected to EEPROM 70 or the like. In this way additional wiring is avoided.
    The position of the lid can be determined by means of a light source and a detector in which the path between the two is interrupted by the lid, contacts provided on the lid which, when the lid is open, close a loop by operating the switch or by any other suitable mechanism.
    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 the platen is prevented from being moved toward the print head. The platen roller locking component 400 is mounted in such a way that it rotates around a turning point 404. The turning point 404 is located between the first end 402 and a second end 406 of the platen roller locking component.
    Figure shows the first end 402 in the position that prevents the platen roller from moving through the second end 406. The first end 402 is arranged to protrude into the portion of the label printer that receives the lid when the lid 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 .
    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 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 stop 405 of the platen supporting component. Consequently, the platen can then move in the direction of the print head. Thus, when the cover is opened, the platen can move toward the print head. When the lid is closed or when no cassette is present, the platen supporting component 408 is prevented from moving by the stopper 405.
    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. 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. 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 322 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 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 (18)
    [1]
    A cassette for a label printer comprising: a stock of the print medium; a housing for accommodating said printing medium, said housing having first and second surfaces and at least one side protruding between said first and second surfaces; and a cover provided on one of said sides and having a first position and a second position, wherein when said cassette is included in a label printer, said cover is configured in such a way that, if it is located in said label first position, interacts with cassette detecting means of said label printer.
    [2]
    A cassette according to claim 1, wherein said cover comprises at least one contact which, when said cassette is in said label printer and the cover is in the second position, is configured to close a detection circuit in said label printer .
    [3]
    A cassette according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said first position is a closed position and said second position is an open position.
    [4]
    A cassette according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said cover comprises means providing information about the cassette exposed when the cover is in said second position.
    [5]
    A cassette according to claim 4, wherein said means for providing information about the cassette are provided on the inside of said cover in such a way that when said cover is in said first position, said means provides that information provided over the cassette are protected by said cassette.
    [6]
    A cassette according to any of claims 4 or 5, wherein said means providing information about the cassette comprises at least one of the following components: an EEPROM, a contact, a pattern of contacts, an RF tag , a bar code; and at least one means for operating a switch.
    [7]
    A cassette according to any of claims 4 or 6, wherein said means for providing information about the cassette are configured to provide one or more elements of the following information: information about the image-receiving medium, width of the image-receiving medium, if the image-receiving medium is in the form of separate labels: information relating to the separate labels, information about a color of the image-receiving medium, information about a material of the image-receiving medium , the color of the ink ribbon, print head energy information, print head pressure information, template information relating to the image receiving medium, amount consumed from the image receiving medium, and remaining amount of the image-receiving medium.
    [8]
    A cassette according to any of claims 4 or 7, wherein said means providing information about the cassette are configured to provide information about the presence of a cassette.
    [9]
    A cassette according to any of claims 4 or 8, wherein said means providing information about the cassette are configured to interact with cassette detection means of said label printer when said cassette is in the label printer.
    [10]
    A cassette for a label printer comprising: a stock of the print medium; a housing for accommodating said printing medium, said housing having first and second surfaces and at least one side protruding between said first and second surfaces; and a cover provided on one of said sides and having a first position and a second position, said cover having means that provide information about the cassette that are exposed when the cover is in said second position.
    [11]
    A cassette according to any of the claim 10, wherein said cover comprises at least one contact which, when said cassette is in said label printer and the cover is in the second position, is configured to perform a detection cycle in the said label printer.
    [12]
    A cassette according to any of claims 10 or 11, wherein said cover comprises means providing information about the cassette.
    [13]
    A cassette according to claim 12, wherein said means for providing information about the cassette is provided on the inside of said cover in such a way that when said cover is in said second position, said means provides that information provide information about the cassette and when said cover is in the first position, said means providing information about the cassette are exposed, in use, to a label printer.
    [14]
    A cassette according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said means providing information about the cassette comprises at least one of the following components: an EEPROM, at least one contact, a pattern of contacts, an RF tag, a bar code; and at least one means for operating a switch.
    [15]
    A cassette according to any of claims 12 or 14, wherein said means providing information about the cassette are configured to provide one or more elements of the following information: information about the image-receiving medium, width of the image-receiving medium, if the image-receiving medium is in the form of separate labels: information relating to the separate labels, information about a color of the image-receiving medium, information about a material of the image-receiving medium , the color of the ink ribbon, print head energy information, print head print information, template information relating to the image receiving medium, amount consumed from the image receiving medium, remaining amount of the image-receiving medium, and information about the presence of a cassette.
    [16]
    A cassette according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said stock of a print medium contains at least one of an image receiving medium and an ink ribbon.
    [17]
    A label printer in combination with a cassette according to any of the preceding claims.
    [18]
    A label printer comprising: a cassette-receiving dock for recording a cassette, said cassette-receiving dock including means for clamping a lid of a cassette when it is located in said cassette-receiving dock, and for moving said cover from a first position to a second position.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    GB201007081D0|2010-06-09|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    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|
    WO2010125127A1|2009-04-28|2010-11-04|Dymo|Cassette for use in a tape printer|CN106132717A|2014-03-24|2016-11-16|精工爱普生株式会社|Tape printing apparatus and band print system|
    法律状态:
    2014-04-30| RE| Patent lapsed|Effective date: 20131031 |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    GB201007081A|GB201007081D0|2010-04-28|2010-04-28|Cassette for use in a label printer|
    GB201007081|2010-04-28|
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