• 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. Said label printer contains at least one supply of print medium and a housing. The housing has a first surface as well as a second surface, said second surface being opposite the first surface, and at least one side extending between said first and second surfaces, one side having a switch operating device with a ramp. surface configured to operate, in use, a label printer switch.
    公开号:BE1020169A5
    申请号:E2010/0586
    申请日:2010-10-06
    公开日:2013-06-04
    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 a cassette that is recorded in a cassette recording dock of the label printer.
    Some label printer manufacturers offer more than one model and / or adjust their range. However, it is inconvenient and potentially confusing for a consumer when each different label printer works with a different cassette. At present, the design of new label printers is generally limited by the current design of the cassettes supplied by the manufacturer concerned.
    Some label printers are provided with a switch on the bottom of the cassette-receiving dock. The position of that switch is controlled by the cassette based on the characteristics of the image-receiving medium in the cassette. Therefore, the dimensions of the cassette and of the dock accommodating a cassette must be sufficiently large to accommodate the switch and the surfaces of the cassette that operate the switch.
    The cassette may contain an image receiving medium and an ink ribbon. The relative placement of these elements in the cassette, for example with respect to a printing zone, exerts an influence on the dimensions of the cassette and of the label printer.
    A cassette for a label printer according to the invention comprises: at least one supply of the printing medium, a housing, said housing having a first surface and a second surface, said second surface facing the first surface, and at least one side facing extending between said first and second surfaces, one side having a switch-operating device configured to operate, in use, a switch of a label printer.
    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 first side of the cassette is shown; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the cassette of Figure 1, showing the side opposite to the side shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view of a second surface of the cassette of Figure 1, not shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4a shows the cassette of Figure 1 inserted into a first label printer; Figure 4b shows the cassette of Figure 1 inserted into a second label printer; Figure 5a is a cross-section along the line D - D of Figure 4a; Figure 5b is a cross-section along the line D - D of Figure 4b; Figure 6a is a cross-section along the line A - A of Figure 4a; Figure 6b is a cross-section along the line A - A of Figure 4b; Figure 7a is a cross-section along the line B - B of Figure 4a; Figure 7b is a cross-sectional view along the line B - B of Figure 4b; Figure 8a is a cross-section along the line C - C of Figure 4a;
    Figure 8b is a cross-section along the line C - C of Figure 4b; Figure 9 shows the interior of the cassette of Figure 1; Figure 10 schematically shows the elements of a label printer; Figure 11a shows a schematic view of a first label printer; Figure 11b shows a schematic view of a second label printer; Figure 12a shows a second cassette in accordance with the invention; Figure 12b shows the cassette of Figure 1 for comparison; Figure 12c shows the second cassette with respect to a disaster switch of the label printer; Figure 12d shows the cassette of Figure 1 with regard to the label printer's disaster switch; Fig. 13 schematically shows a part of the wall of a cassette receiving dock; Figure 14 shows a cut-away view of the cassette of Figure 1; Figure 15 shows the sub-assembly of the ink ribbon of Figure 14; Fig. 15 shows the sub-assembly of the ink ribbon of Fig. 15 with the ink ribbon supply spool and the ink ribbon take-up spool in place; 17a and 17b, respectively. show the docking docks of the label printers of Figures 4a and 4b when no cassette is present; Figures 18a and 18b show a part of the wall of the cassette-receiving docks of the label printers of Figures 4a and 4b, opposite the wall shown in Figures 17a and 17b; Figures 19a and 19b show two cassettes in accordance with the invention wherein the cassette of Figure 19b is wider than the cassette of Figure 19a for comparison; and Figures 20a and 20b show a cross-section of a spool pressed by a locking component.
    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 stated, 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 the accompanying figures. The cassette 2 has a housing 4. The housing 4 has a generally rectangular, cubic shape and thus has the shape of a box in a certain sense. The housing 4 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. As will be described in more detail below, 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. This will depend on the configuration of the resp. docking a cassette.
    The housing also has a first side 10, a second side 12, a third side 14 and a fourth side 16. These sides each extend between the first surface 6 and the second surface 8. The first side 10 faces the second side 12. The third side 14 is opposite the fourth side 16.
    The housing 4 has a printing zone 18 that is controlled in use to accommodate at least a portion of the printing mechanism of the label printer (as will be described below with respect to Figure 10). The printing zone 18 protrudes from the fourth side 16 into the cassette. The print zone 18 is open on both the first and second surfaces 6 and 8 to provide an accessible print zone. That is, the cassette can be inserted in the resp. a cassette receiving dock with either the first surface or the second surface facing the bottom surface. The surface facing the bottom of the cassette recording dock will depend on the configuration of the cassette recording dock of the label printer.
    In one embodiment of the present invention, a lid 20 is provided on the fourth side 16. The movable lid 20 can be moved along the plane of the fourth side 16 from a position in which the printing zone 18 is closed in the plane of the fourth side ( as can be seen in Figure 3) and a position in which the printing zone 18 is open in the plane of the fourth side 18. In another embodiment of the invention, the cover 20 can be omitted.
    The cassette has first and second openings 22a and 22b provided on the first surface 6. Directly opposite these openings are the openings 24a and 24b provided on the second surface. The first opening 22a of the first surface is aligned with the first opening 24a of the second surface. Similarly, the second opening 22b of the first surface is aligned with the second opening 24b of the second surface. A first ink ribbon spool 26a (see Figure 9) extends between the openings 22a and 24a. Similarly, a second ink ribbon spool 26b (see Figure 9) protrudes between the second openings 22b and 24b. One of these ink ribbon spools is an ink ribbon supply spool 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.
    As can be seen in Figs. 17a and b, it includes a cassette receiving dock first and second ink ribbon posts 326 and 328 that are arranged to be incorporated in and clamped with, respectively. the ink ribbon spool and the ink ribbon take-up spool. At least one of the ink ribbon styles can be driven in a forward and / or reverse direction. The dock accommodating a cassette will be described below.
    The cassette shown in the figures can be used with a series of different label printers with different designs. By way of example, we now refer to Figures 11a and 11b. Figure 11a shows a first label printer 88. On the same surface of the label printer a cassette receiving dock 90 is provided, a display screen 92 and a keyboard 94. As can be seen from Figure 11a, the cassette receiving dock 90 is located, the display screen 92 and the keyboard 94 is all located on the same surface of the label printer 88.
    In contrast, a second label printer is shown in Figure 11b. The display screen 92 and the keyboard 94 are provided on a first side of the label printer while the cassette receiving dock 100 is located on the opposite side of the label printer.
    It should be noted that in other embodiments of the present invention no keyboard is provided and that the label printer is instead connected to a PC which transmits the information about the labels to be printed. Of course, labels printers such as those shown in Figs. 11a and 11b may operate in standalone mode and / or in a mode connected to the PC, the PC transmitting the information about the labels to be printed.
    In one adaptation, the screen and the keyboard can be replaced by a touch screen that takes care of both functions.
    Only by way of example, we now refer to Figures 4a and 4b. In Figure 4a, the cassette 2 is inserted into a first label printer 28a. When cassette 2 is inserted into the first label printer 28a, the first surface 6 will face the bottom 54a of the cassette 30 dock 30a with the second surface 8 at the very top. Fig. 17a shows a perspective view of the dock accommodating a cassette without the cassette.
    This is in contrast to the second label printer shown in Figure 4b. At the second label printer 28b, the cassette 2 is inserted exactly differently into the cassette-receiving dock 30b, so that the second surface 8 faces the bottom 54b of the cassette-receiving dock 30 with the second surface 6 at the very top. Figure 17b shows a perspective view of the dock accommodating a cassette without the cassette.
    The docks of figures 4a and 4b accommodating a cassette can be used respectively. are provided on opposite sides of resp. tape printers, as shown in Figures 11a and 11b. As another possibility, the docks of figures 4a and 4b accommodating a cassette can be provided on the same sides with resp. tape printers. In both cases, the docking docks of Figures 4a and 4b are mirror images of each other.
    A cassette that can be inserted into a cassette receiving dock with the first surface 6 facing the bottom 54a of the cassette receiving dock 30a, and which can also be inserted into a second cassette receiving dock 30b which is the mirror image thereof. second surface 8 facing the bottom 54b of the cassette-receiving dock 30b may have the advantage that the position of the exit of the tape is no longer determined by the position of the cassette-receiving dock in the printer. By way of example, if a cassette can be inserted in only one direction, a label printer with a cassette receiving dock open at the front will not have the same exit point of the tape as a label printer with a cassette recording dock open at the back of the label printer (for the same cassette). With a cassette for which both the first surface 6 and the second surface 8 can be directed towards the bottom of the dock accommodating a cassette, this is no longer the case.
    As can be noted by comparing Figures 5a to 8a with Figures 5b to 8b, the cassette can be used in an orientation in which the first surface 6 faces the cassette dock or the second surface 8 faces the bottom of the dock accommodating a cassette. If the first surface is arranged to face toward the bottom of the first cassette-receiving dock, the second will be a cassette-receiving dock - which is arranged to accommodate a cassette whose second surface is facing the bottom of the second one cassette receiving dock - be a mirror image of the first cassette receiving dock.
    In the label printer 28a shown in Fig. 4a, a first zone 32a and a second zone 34a are provided opposite each other, and on each side of the cassette 2. In the embodiment of Fig. 4a, the first zone 32 is adjacent to the fourth side 16 of the cassette while the second zone 34a borders on the third side 14 of the cassette. The first and second zones 32a and 34a have dimensions determined in such a way that they accommodate the thumb of a user on one side and the index finger of that user on the other. In this way, the user can grasp the third and fourth sides 14 and 16 of the cassette to remove the cassette from the cassette receiving dock. It should be noted that this is only an example and that various other mechanisms for removing a cassette from the cassette-receiving dock can be used, including various mechanisms of an ejector mechanism.
    The second label printer 28b is provided with similar first and second zones 32b, respectively. 34b, to allow the cassette to be removed from the dock accommodating a cassette.
    The various features of a cassette that allow the cassette to be placed in the cassette 30a or 30b accommodating a cassette are now described with reference to both Figures 5 to 8 and 17 and 18. It should be noted that Figures 5 to 8 show cross-sections of the label printers of figures 4a and 4b. However, in order to clearly show the interaction between elements of the cassette and the dock accommodating a cassette, the cassette is not shown in a cross-section, instead the contours of the cassette on the resp. cross section.
    We hereby refer to figure 2 which shows a first device for placing on the second side 12. The first arrangement device 36 is symmetrical about a line extending over the center of the second side 12, parallel to the first and second surfaces 6 and 8 and halfway the first and second surfaces 6 and 8. On each side of the center line is a first indented zone 40 extending from the resp. one of the first and second surfaces to the centerline. The first indented zone 40 has a flat surface 42 parallel to the resp. first and second surfaces 6 and 8. The flat surface 42, in turn, has its own second, smaller indented zone 44, which also extends to the centerline. The smaller indented zone 44 does not extend beyond the centerline. Accordingly, the positioning device 36 includes two symmetrical portions, each portion being placed on each side of the centerline and each containing first and second indented zones.
    The interaction of this first device for placing the label printers docking with a cassette is described below with reference to Figures 7 and 8.
    Figures 8a and 8b show a cross-section of the dock accommodating a cassette, showing the circumferences of the cassette and the cross-section taken through the second indented zone 44. In contrast, Figures 7a and 7b show a cross-section taken through the first arrangement 36, through the first indented zone 42 but not through the second indented zone 44. As shown in Figs. 7a and 7b, the flat surface 42 of the first indented zone 40 is in contact with surface 46 of the cassette receiving dock to hold the cassette in place. The surface 46 is parallel to the bottom 54a / b of the cassette-receiving dock. These elements of the dock accommodating a cassette can also be clearly seen in Figures 18a and 18b.
    As can be noted in Figures 8a and 8b, a pin 48 of the cassette receiving dock is included in the further indentation 44 of the first device for placing. In another embodiment, the pin can be provided by a base plate located at the bottom of the dock accommodating a cassette. The pin 48 is dimensioned in such a way that the pin 48 can be received in a further indentation 44 with only a small play in the first direction and more play in a second direction. The pin 48 generally extends from the surface 46 and has a height that is slightly smaller than the size of the second indentation 44. This is intended to meet production tolerances of cassettes.
    We now refer to Figure 1 which shows second first device 38 for placing on the first side 10 of the cassette. The second placement device 38 is again symmetrically arranged around a centerline extending along the length of the second side 10, parallel to the first and second surfaces 6 and 8. The second placement device 38 includes a step 39 on each centerline side. The stage 39 starts on the first side 10 of the resp. surfaces 6 and 8 and at a position on the first side adjacent to the third side. The step 39 extends toward the centerline, then has a flat surface 50 that extends parallel to the first and second surfaces 6 and 8 and then a surface 51 that extends at right angles to the flat surface 50 on the centerline.
    The interaction between the second device for positioning 38 with the resp. a cassette receiving docks can be noted in Figures 7 and 8 as well as in Figures 17 a and b. In particular, stage 39 that is closer to the surface 6 or 8 of the cassette facing the bottom of the cassette-receiving dock is arranged to interact with a surface 52 of the cassette-receiving dock. In particular, the flat surface 50 is arranged to come into contact with the surface 52 of the cassette receiving dock. The surface 52 is parallel with the surface 54 at the bottom of the cassette receiving dock. The surface 52 is also parallel to the surface 46. In one embodiment of the present invention, the surfaces 52 and 46 are in the same plane. However, in other embodiments, the surfaces 52 and 46 may be in different planes.
    We now refer again to Figure 1. On the first side 10 there is a switch-operating device 60. This switch-operating device is also symmetrical with respect to the center line. The symmetrical switch-operating device 60 includes a stage 62 on each side of the centerline. The stage 62 is larger than the corresponding stage 39 of the second device for placing 38. In one embodiment, the stage 62 is arranged to extend over more than half the length of the first side 10. The stage 62, on each side of the centerline, starts at a position on the first side adjacent to the fourth side 16. The step 62 then extends in the direction of the centerline. Then there is a flat surface 63 that extends parallel to the first and second surfaces. At the end of the flat surface 63 there is a ramp 64 that extends from the end of the flat surface 63 to the centerline. The slopes each lie in a plane that generally forms a right angle with the plane of the first side. The two ramps 64 of each stage 62 are arranged to meet at the centerline so as to form a zone formed as a V at the end of the stages 62. In the illustrated embodiment, there is a gap or a space between the end of the slopes 64 and the surfaces 51 of the second positioning device 38. In another embodiment, there are two indented zones between the end of the slopes 64 and the surfaces 51 of the second positioning device 38. The two indented zones lie in that case symmetrical on each side of the centerline.
    Each step 62 is provided with a locating hole 69 that extends into the flat surface in the direction of the centerline. The locating hole can be provided on the flat surface 63 at an end side thereof that is closer to the fourth side 16 than at the end with the slope on the flat surface 63. The placement of the locating hole 69 causes the first side to one end contains the second device for placing and at the other end a third device for placing (i.e. the device of hole 69, and the corresponding hole on the other side), which in combination with the first device for placing 36 provides three devices for placing the cassette in the cassette receiving dock. The three positioning devices together ensure correct placement of the cassette in the cassette receiving dock.
    In one embodiment, the three positioning devices are provided as a plane defined by at least three points. Accordingly, in one embodiment, there are three positioning devices to ensure that the cassette is placed in a plane. Consequently, some embodiments guarantee three positioning devices that the cassette is placed in the correct plane. The two locating pins ensure that the cassette does not move in both directions of the plane, and the locking components ensure that the cassette does not move in the third direction.
    In one embodiment of the present invention, a set of cassettes is provided. In this embodiment, two cassettes are provided in the set. It should be noted that in other embodiments, different numbers of cassettes may be provided in the set. The set contains the cassette as previously described, as well as the second cassette shown in Figure 12a. For comparison, the second cassette of Figure 12a is shown next to the first cassette in Figure 12b. The cassettes of the set can have the same general arrangement, but different first sides. Figures 12a and b show the different configuration of the first side of the second cassette 102.
    In the second cassette shown in Figure 12a, the first side 110 includes a second device for loading 138. The second device for loading 138 is similar to the second device for loading 38 of Figure 1 but is now placed on the first side 110, near the fourth side 116 of the cassette. Moreover, this second device for positioning 138 is also controlled on resp. locating holes 169 provided opposite each other on each side of the second locating device 138. The locating holes have the same function and position as the locating holes 69 of the switch actuating device 60 of Fig. 1. It should be noted that in the illustrated In the embodiment, the length of the second device for placing generally corresponds to the length of the switch-operating device 60 of the cassette of Figure 1, excluding the ramps 64.
    The first side 210 of the second cassette 102 includes a switch-operating device 160 which again closely resembles the switch-operating device 60 of the cassette of Figure 1. The switch-operating device 160 of the second cassette 102 is close to the third placed on side 114. The length of the switch-operating device 160 excluding the ramps 64 is thus generally the same as the length of the second device for loading the first cassette. The slopes 164 then extend in the same manner as described in connection with the first cassette. The switch-operating device of the second cassette is thus generally a mirror image of the switch-operating device of the first cassette. The switch-actuating device 160 does not have the locating holes since these are now provided as described above for the second locating device.
    The set of cassettes can be arranged to contain a third cassette which does not contain the switch-operating device but which, instead, has two second positioning devices to its satisfaction. Consequently, no ramps are involved.
    In other embodiments of the invention, the set of cassettes may contain three or more different cassettes.
    The cassettes of the set can be arranged to accommodate different types of an image receiving medium. Only by way of example can the first cassette contain an image-receiving medium with a first width and the second cassette can contain an image-receiving medium with a second width. In one embodiment, the first cassettes may contain a first subset of widths and the second cassettes may contain a second subset of widths. If a third cassette is provided, it may contain a third width or a third subset of widths. It should be noted that if the cassettes of the set are arranged to accommodate differently wide tapes, the width of the cassette (i.e., the distance between the first and second surfaces) may differ for different cassettes of the set.
    The position of the slope (and hence its interaction with a switch in the label printer) can be used to transfer information about the print medium of the cassette (the image receiving medium and / or the ink ribbon). The information may relate to the width and / or printing energy requirements, the color of the print medium, the thickness of the print medium, the type of print medium, etc.
    We now refer to Figures 19a and 19b which, for comparison, show a wider cassette in Figure 19b and a narrower cassette in Figure 19a. These cassettes can accommodate different wide cassettes. As can be seen, the first device 40 for placing each cassette is centered along the centerline of the first side 10. Furthermore, the distance 41 between the flat surfaces 42 of the two indented zones is the same for the two cassettes. Furthermore, the two indented zones 44 are the same for the two cassettes. Consequently, the cassettes are configured to have a central alignment when they are inserted into the cassette receiving dock. That is, the central plane between the second surfaces of all the differently wide cassettes will always lie in the same plane. Consequently, the same dimensioned first positioning device, centered around the central plane, will be used which is also the width of the cassette. The other individual positioning devices can also have the same dimensions, which is also the width of the cassette.
    We now refer to Figure 13 which schematically shows a part of the label printer and in particular a part of the wall 70 of the cassette-receiving dock which, in use, is directed to the first wall 10 or 110 of the cassette when it is in a cassette accommodating dock. The wall 70 of the cassette receiving dock includes a switch 72. In one embodiment, this switch is pushed into a neutral position, in Figure 13. This neutral position is a central position. Consequently, in one embodiment, when there is no cassette in the dock accommodating a cassette, the switch will be in neutral position.
    When the first cassette is included in the cassette-receiving dock, the switch is moved through the ramp 64 to the right-hand side of Figure 13. This can also be seen in Figures 17a and 17b. The switch 72 itself has first and second inclined surfaces 73 which are controlled to clamping the slope of the switch-operating device 160. This is also shown schematically in Fig. 12d showing the switch 72 moved by the ramp 64 to a position where the switch is located between the switch-operating device 60 and the second device for positioning 38. In another embodiment, the do not switch sloping surfaces, but a flat, round or any other type of surface.
    When the second cassette is included in the cassette-receiving dock, the switch is moved through the ramp 164 to the left-hand side of Figure 13. This can also be seen in Figures 17a and 17b. This is also shown schematically in Figure 12c which shows the switch 72 moved by the ramp 164 to a position where the switch is located between the switch-operating device 160 and the second device for positioning 138. As can be seen by the 12c and 12d, the switch is moved to one position by the first cassette and to a second, different position by the second cassette.
    A detector 74 is arranged to determine the position of the switch 74: the left or the right position. The detector 72 is thus able to provide an output to the controller which indicates whether the cassette is in the first or the second cassette. This provides information to the controller about one or more properties of the image-receiving medium in the cassette. For example, when a first cassette is detected, the controller is configured to control the label printer in accordance with the width connected to the first cassette. Similarly, when a second cassette is detected, the controller is configured to control the label printer according to the width that is connected to the second cassette. This information can, for example, be used by the label printer to check the dimensions of the image so that the final image can be printed on the image receiving medium.
    In some embodiments, the cassette may not be designed to be inserted in two different directions. In these embodiments, only one half of the devices of the sides 10 or 110 are provided. By way of example, the slope on the centerline side opposite the locating hole 69 enclosing the printer can be omitted.
    We now refer to Figures 5 and 6, which are respectively. show cross-sections along the lines D - D and A - A. In particular, we refer to Figure 6 which shows a locking component 70 of the cassette receiving dock. The locking component 70 is made of a resilient material. Accordingly, in order to insert the cassette into the dock accommodating a cassette in the direction of the arrow E, the locking component 70 moves away from the cassette in the direction of the arrow F so as to allow the steps 62 to part 72 of the locking component. The protruding portion 72 is such that when the cassette is fully received in the cassette receiving dock, the protruding portion 72 clamps the flat surface 63 of the stairs further away from the bottom of the cassette receiving dock. It should be noted that a similar locking component 70 (see Figs. 18a and 18b) is provided against the adjacent surface 46 and pin 48 on the other side of the cassette receiving dock.
    As can be seen from Figure 5, a pin 74 of the cassette-receiving dock is arranged to be received in the locating hole 69 of the staircase, closer to the bottom of the cassette-receiving dock. The dimensions of this pin are dimensioned in such a way that they generally correspond to the dimensions of the locating hole, but that they allow production tolerances for the cassette. It should be noted that the locating hole can have a round or any other cross section. Preferably but not necessarily, the pin has a cross-section that has the same shape as the cross-section of the locating hole.
    The placing and locking devices shown are such that one or more devices can be omitted and / or replaced by a different device. The placement devices can be the same or different. The switch-operating device may be omitted in some embodiments of the invention. The second device for placing can be placed on the first side, close to the fourth side. In another embodiment of the invention, any of the described devices may be provided on any of the sides of the cassette.
    It should of course be noted that in other embodiments, other mechanisms may be used to position and hold the cassette in the dock accommodating a cassette.
    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. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first and second portions are externally controlled to be mirror images of the other. This means that the production of molds from the cassette can be done cheaper. Internally, the first and second parts are similar but not identical. That is because the two portions are arranged to be assembled by way of, for example, snap fasteners, snap closures, etc. Accordingly, the first and second portions are formed with cooperating components to ensure that the two portions can be assembled.
    The two sections 202 and 204 are controlled to have the same thickness t. This thickness can be measured in the direction perpendicular to the resp. surfaces 6 and 8. In other words, the width of each of the sides of the cassette, defined by the two portions, is 2t. This is in contrast to known cassettes which generally have one portion that supplies most of the width of the cartridge while the other portion provides a valve and contributes less to the thickness or width of the cartridge. Having two sections of the same thickness is advantageous by way of example in providing a cassette that can be inserted in any manner into a cassette receiving dock.
    The cassette is arranged to house the stock of the image-receiving medium 7. 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 20. This lid is arranged to move from a first position, which is shown by way of example in Figure 3, in which the image-receiving medium and the ink ribbon are protected by the lid 28 in the print zone. In a second open position, the lid 20 is moved so that the image-receiving medium and the ink ribbon are exposed in the print zone 16.
    A clamping / locking component 206 is provided. The clamping / locking component 206 has a first locking protrusion 208 which is arranged to clamp an opening 220 of the lid 20 to hold the lid in the closed position. The component 206 has a clamping end 211 which is arranged to interact with a post 222 of one or both of the sections 202 and 204 to clamp the image receiving medium therebetween. Clamping can occur when the lid is in the closed position. The movement of the lid from the closed to the open position can cause the clamping force of the clamp 211 to be reduced, so that the image-receiving medium can be pulled out of the supply. In some embodiments, the clamping force can only be removed when the lid is fully open.
    The cassette also contains a sub-assembly for an ink ribbon 214. This sub-assembly is more clearly visible in Figs. 15 and 16. Fig. 15 shows the sub-assembly 214 without the reels for feeding the ink ribbon and the take-up reels for the ink ribbon. Fig. 16 shows the sub-assembly 214 where the reels for the supply of ink ribbon and the take-up reels for the ink ribbon are present. It should be noted that Figure 15 shows the sub-assembly from one side while Figure 16 shows the sub-assembly from the opposite side. The sub-assembly 214 has a first circular opening 230 and a second circular opening 232 on one side. Both these openings are arranged for the resp.
    receiving ends of the take-up spool for the ink ribbon 271 and the spool for the supply of ink ribbon 270. On the opposite side of the sub-assembly for an ink ribbon 214, first and second collars 233 and 234 are provided. The collars define oak in the generally a part of a circle. The collars are of such dimensions and shape that the resp. upper zones 236 and 238 of the take-up reel for the ink ribbon 271 and the reel for feeding ink ribbon 270 into position on the collar can be pushed. The collars do not form a completely closed circle so that the coils can be inserted laterally on the ink ribbon sub-assembly. Both coils are inserted laterally from opposite sides. The dimensions of the collars may be such that the coils must be pressed in to be received by the collars. In one embodiment, the collars are made of sufficiently flexible material, so that the coils can be pushed onto the collars but then held in place by the collars.
    The ink ribbon sub assembly 21 includes first and second locking components 240 and 242. The locking components are controlled to each clamp one of the ink ribbon spools. These locking components 240 and 242 clamp the ink ribbon spools to prevent the ink ribbon from being pulled away from the resp. spools except when sufficient force is applied by, for example, the drive of the take-up spool for the ink ribbon 271 or the spool for the supply of ink ribbon 270. The resp. locking components may be included in recesses 221 of the lower surface 8 (see Figure 3). These locking components 240 and 242 are provided on opposite sides of the coils, just like the corresponding recesses 221. Alternatively, the locking components 240 and 242 and the corresponding recesses 221 can be located on the same side of the coils.
    The locking components of the previously discussed embodiment are shown in Figure 20a. The locking component 240/242 forces the coil 270/271 in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the coil, as indicated by P. in the figure. In another embodiment, shown in Figure 20b, there are no recesses in surface 8 and the locking components 260 and 262 arranged to force the coil 270/271 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the coil, as designated Q in Figure 20a.
    It should be noted that the sub-assembly also supplies the print zone 16. The spool adjacent to the print zone 18 is the spool for the feed. The ink ribbon passes from the feed spool through the opening of the printing zone 18 and down to the take-up spool. As can be seen, the spool for the feed and the take-up spool are in a direct line with the print zone. In particular, in the mounted cassette, the image receiving medium is controlled on one side of the print zone with the feed spool and the ink ribbon take-up spool in a straight line below the print zone. This is an advantage because a compact control of the cassette can be realized in this way.
    We now refer to Figures 17a and 17b. The dock accommodating a cassette has a fixed print head 322 and a platen 324. The platen is arranged to be rotatable about its axes. The platen is also arranged to be movable in the direction of the printhead 322. The printhead 322 is arranged to be received in the print zone 18 of the cassette. The image receiving medium and the ink ribbon are arranged to pass over each other between the printhead 322 and the platen 324. The print zone is therefore defined between the printhead 322 and the platen 324.
    In this embodiment, the print head 322 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 controlled 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 320 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 wrap the ink-ribbon take-up spool to clamp. 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 332 (shown in dotted lines) that controls the movement of the platen toward the print head. When the cover 332 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.
    We now refer to Figure 10 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 (12)
    [1]
    A cassette for a label printer comprising: at least one supply of the print medium; a housing, said housing having a first surface and a second surface, said second surface facing the first surface, and at least one side extending between said first and second surfaces, one side having a switch-operating device with an inclined surface configured to operate a switch of a label printer in use and located in a plane and said plane having right angles to the plane containing said one side.
    [2]
    A cassette according to claim 1, wherein said inclined surface is configured to protrude in the direction of a centerline from said one side.
    [3]
    A cassette according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said switch-operating device comprises a locating surface.
    [4]
    A cassette according to claim 3, wherein said locating surface is flat and parallel to a surface of the first surface and a surface of said second surface.
    [5]
    A cassette according to claim 4, wherein said switch-operating device comprises an opening in said locating surface.
    [6]
    A cassette according to claim 5, wherein the opening extends in a direction parallel to said axis of rotation.
    [7]
    A cassette as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a device for placing it, kept at a distance from said switch-operating device.
    [8]
    A cassette according to claim 7, wherein said placing device comprises a locating surface.
    [9]
    A cassette according to claim 8, wherein said locating surface of said locating device is flat and parallel to a plane of the first surface and a plane of said second surface.
    [10]
    A cassette according to claim 9, wherein said placing device comprises an opening in said locating surface.
    [11]
    A cassette according to claim 10, wherein the opening in said device for placing extends in a direction parallel to said axis of rotation.
    [12]
    A cassette according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein said position of said inclined surface is dependent on a characteristic of said printing medium.
    类似技术:
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    BE1023132B1|2016-11-28|
    GB201007087D0|2010-06-09|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    US5253334A|1991-01-31|1993-10-12|Casio Computer Co., Ltd.|Tape printer|
    US6371670B1|1998-02-06|2002-04-16|Casio Computer Co., Ltd.|Label printing apparatus|
    EP0958927A1|1998-04-23|1999-11-24|Esselte N.V.|Tape printing apparatus and tape cassette|
    GB2459531A|2008-04-29|2009-11-04|Dymo Nv|Label printer having cassette engagement detection means|
    EP2246197A1|2009-04-28|2010-11-03|Dymo|Cassette for use in a label printer|
    JPH0162064U|1987-10-14|1989-04-20|
    US5921688A|1996-04-15|1999-07-13|Seiko Epson Corporation|Tape printing apparatus|
    JP4561442B2|2005-03-30|2010-10-13|ブラザー工業株式会社|Tape cassette|
    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    GB201007087|2010-04-28|
    GBGB1007087.8A|GB201007087D0|2010-04-28|2010-04-28|Cassette for use in a label printer|
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