US3787266A

US3787266A - Labeller with pushing-out means

Info

Publication number: US3787266A
Application number: US00169214A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Wada
Original assignee: CEIKO CEIKI CO
Current assignee: CEIKO CEIKI CO; CEIKO CEIKI CO LTD JA
Priority date: 1970-08-14
Filing date: 1971-08-05
Publication date: 1974-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-22
Also published as: DE2140007A1; DE2140007B2; NL7111189A; DE2139987B2; CA939299A; SE396343B; AU3210871A; FR2104569A5; AU469553B2; GB1360505A; FR2104568A5; NL7111190A; DE2139987A1; GB1360504A; AU3210771A; CA958586A; AU469552B2

Abstract

A labeller comprising a casing which is provided with a tape support supporting a tape carrying labels, means for detaching each label by the reverse turning of the tape, a tape feed means, a window supporting the detached label, and a holding portion; a label pushing-out means having a pushing-out portion corresponding to said opening and having at least one pushing-out spring; and a movable member engaging and disengaging said tape feed means and said pushing-out means, said movable member being adapted to engage said pushing-out means to move together therewith and to disengage said pushing-out member at a predetermined position of said pushing-out member while said spring is in a tensioned condition.

Description

States Patent 1191 ada 5] Jan. 22, 1974 LABELLER WITH PUSHING-OUT MEANS I [75] Inventor: Tokio Wada, Tokyo, Japan Pr'mary Examiner Phlhp [73] Assignee: Ceiko Ceiki Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: Aug. 5, 197.1 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl 169214 A labeller comprising a casing which is provided with a tape support supporting a tape carrying labels, [30] Foreign Application Priority D t means for detaching each label by the reverse turning Aug. 14, 1970 Japan 45-70955 of the tape a tape feed means a windw Supporting 6, 970 n 4587193 the detached label, and a holding portion; a label Dec. 29 1970 Japan 45-132946 pushing'out means having a pushing'mt I responding to said opening and having at least one 52 US. on 156/361, 156/384, 156/540, puslilg'out Spring; and a "Mable member engaging 156/577 156/584 221/73 and disengaging said tape feed means and said push- 511 int. c1. B65h '2s/00, B656 9/08 Said "Mable member being adapted 58] Field of Search 156/384, 361, 584, 540, 577; engage Pushing-3m means mgeth 221/73 74 therewith and to disengage said pushing-out member at a predetermined position of said pushing-out mem- 56] References Cited ber while said spring is in a tensioned condition.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 3,705,833 12/1972 Wada 156/384 PATENTED M12219 3. 787.. 266

sum 1 0F 5 INVENTOR TOM/0 WA DA BY Yaw ATTORNEY PATENTEU M22197? 3.787. 266

Slim E 0F 5 70/00 WADA BY @MZZ ZvQgQ ATTORNEY INVENTOR PATENTED 3.787. 266

SHEET [if INVENTOR TOKIO WA DA BY @W W ATTORNEY PATEmfnJmzema SHEU m BF 5 INVENTOR TO Kl 0 WA DA ATTORNEY PATENTEDJANZZIW 3; 7'87, 286

SHEET W 5 I N VEN TOR TOK/O WADA BY @Ww W ATTORNEY 1 LABELLIER WITH PUSlHIllNG-OUT MEANS Crossreference is hereby made to the related copending application of the present applicant, Tokio Wada, Ser. No. 169,617., filed Aug. 6, 1971, for Labeller with Printing Means, the claims of which are confined to said printing means and do not specify the pushing-out means specified in the claims herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to labellers in which the attachment of labels to articles is effected by the pushing-out of the labels. Labellers used hitherto have had many inconveniences. It has frequently occurred that the letters printed on a label were incorrectly positioned thereon. Attachment of a printed label on an article often has required so much skill that it has not been easy to attach a label on an article efficiently and rapidly. When the inscription on the label was changed, special difficulties were encountered in attaching a new label in exactly the same position as the label previously'attached to the article. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to eliminate the above disadvantages by providing a labeller which can attach a label to a small box, a bag or a like article by a pushing-out mechanism and which is small in size and free from troubles. Here the label is coated with a bonding agent on the back surface and is detachably carried by a tape. The present labeller also has no reaction resulting from the pushing-out operation. Moreover, the present labeller has a label pushing-out means which is applicable either to a hand-operated labeller or to an electrically-driven labeller.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will appear from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example, embodiments of the present invention.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 shows an elevation of a labeller according to the present invention, partly in section.

FIGS. 2a and 2b are plan views showing successive positions of operation of the ratchet wheel and arm of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the printing means and pad roller of FIG. 1 showing their successive positions of operation in solid lines and in dotted lines respectively.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention in an elevation similar to FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view, partly in section, of the pushingout member of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a modified embodiment of the pushing-out member of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a plan view, partlyin section, of the ink roller device of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of the electrical driving I means of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 shows a manually-operated third embodiment of the present invention in an elevation similar to FIG.

An embodiment of the present invention will be illus trated below with reference to FIG. 1. Numeral 1 represents a hand grip which houses a motor; 2 an operating lever pivotally mounted upon a shaft 4 on an annular flange 3 at the upper end of the hand grip l; 5 a push spring provided between the lower end of the operating lever 2 and the hand grip '1; 6 a connecting rod pivotally connected at its rearward end to the operating lever 2 by a shaft 7 and at its other end to a pawlengaging rod 8 by a shaft 9, the lower end of the pawlengaging rod 8 being swingably pivoted on the annular flange 3; 10 a ratchet wheel connected to a rotary shaft of the motor, which transmits thereto the rotational force of the motor reduced or increased by gears. 11 and 12 denote rotary discs positioned above and below the ratchet wheel 10, which rotary discs are connected to each other by a connecting shaft 13 and by a fixed shaft 14 as shown in FIG. 2a and loosely and pivotally mounted on a shaft rod 15 without being connected to the rotary shaft of the motor. 16 denotes a pawl pivotally mounted upon said fixed shaft 14 connected to the rotary disc 12 and having a projection 17 at its outer I end projecting outwardly from the outer peripheral edges of the rotary plates 11 and 12 with its inner end urged into engagement with the rachet wheel 10 by'a 1 pawl-engaging spring 18 secured to the connecting shaft l3. l9 denotes an arm having its inner end pivotally mounted on the upper surface of the rotary disc 1 l by a shaft 20 and its outer end provided with a projection engaging slot 21. 22 (FIG. 1) denotes a means for moving an adhesion-preventing tape 23. A roller 25 is pivotally mounted on a rotary shaft 29 journalled in casing 26, which roller has projections 24 engageable with the adhesion preventing tape. A roller rotation arm 27 which rotates the roller 25 only in one direction by a ratchet mechanism and other means is mounted on the rotary shaft 29 of the roller 25. This'roller rotation arm 27 is pulled by a tension spring 28 in the direction of rotation of the roller 25. An operating projection 30 at the upper end of the roller rotation arm 27 is inserted into said projection engaging slot 21. A presser roller 31 pressed inward from outward of the roller 25 and simultaneously rotatable with the roller 25 is revolvably pivoted on the casing 26. 32 denotes a printing means which has an end fixed to the arm 19 and integrally operable with the arm 19. As shown in FIG. 1, letter belts are located in two levels to display printed letters in two lines, with the operating wheels 33 being provided in two levels for moving the letter belts. 34 denotes two pad rollers and 35 is a supporting rod upon which the pad rollers 34 are mounted one above the other. 36 denotes a movable arm of arcuate shape carrying at one end of the rod 35 and pivotally mounted at its other end on a fixed shaft 37 pivoted on the casing 26 as shown in FIG. 3. The movable am 36 is located beneath the printing means 32 and is pressed inwardly of the casing 26 by spring 38, the arcuate outside edge 39 being situated inwardly of the casing 26. 40 denotes a pad roller outlet opening provided at one side of the casing 26. 41

denotes a pushing and slidable projection projecting upward toward the lower end of the printing means 32, which projection slidably engages the outside edge 39 of the movable arm36 as the printing means 32 moves to one side. 42 denotes a letter bearing surface of the letter belt provided in the printing means. 43 denotes a label pushing-out member for forcibly attaching a.

label 44 to an article to be labelled. 45 denotes a reciprocably-movuble member or slide reciprocated by the arm 19. The label pushing-out member 43 has at its end a push portion 46 made of a box-shaped thin rubber body or a soft foam resin body and having a flexibility sufficient to push out labels 44 without easily breaking the article. 47 designates a presser rod located at opposite end to the label pushing-out member 43 and formed separately from the label pushing-out member 43. The presser rod 47 is slidable in a slot 48 provided on a side of the casing 26. The presser rod 47 is connected to a fixed projection 50 secured to the casing 26 on one side of a window 49 by a tension spring 51. The label pushing-out member 43 and the pressure rod 47 are connected by a return spring (not shown) weaker in tension than the tension spring 51. 52 denotes a suspension means projecting toward the upper portion of the label pushing-out member 43, which suspension means 52 slidably engages a slot 53 provided at the upper part of the casing 26 and has a step 54 on the under surface thereof. 55 designates an operating rod adapted to move the label pushing-out member 43 in the direction opposite to the window 49 into engagement with the step 54. This operating rod 55 is pivotally mounted on the reciprocably-movable member 45, being pushed upwardly in the direction of the step 54 constantly by a pushing-up spring 56. 57 denotes a tapered projection secured to the casing 26 rearwardly in the path of advance of the operating rod 55, which projection pushes the operating rod 55 downwardly at a fixed position and releases it from engagement with the step 54. 58 denotes a roll of the adhesion-preventing tape 23 for the labels 44; 59 a bracket for the roll 58; 60 a turn-up means for the tape 23; and 61 a roller for leading the tape 23 to the roller 25.

The embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2a, 2b and 3 as described above, is operated as explained below.

The hand grip 1 is grasped with one hand and the switch ls (FIG. 8) is closed manually, whereupon the motor M is energized with electric current, consequently rotating the ratchet wheel 10 connected to the rotary shaft of the motor. The pawl 16 whose inner end is engaged with the ratchet 10 by the spring 18 now rotates together with the rotary discs 11 and 12. Then (FIG. 2a) the projection 17 at the outer end of the pawl 16 projecting from the outer periphery of the rotary discs 11 and 12 contacts and engages the upper part of the operating lever 2 close to the outer periphery of the rotary discs 11 and 12. The pawl 16 thereforeis revolved pivotally about the fixed shaft 14 releasing the engagement of its inner end with the ratchet wheel 10. Then by pulling the operating lever 2 in the direction of the hand grip 1, the operating lever 2 is rotated about the shaft 4 to withdraw its upper portion from the outer periphery of the rotary discs 11 and 12 (FIG. 2b), releasing the engagement of the projection 17 at the end of the pawl 16 from the upper portion of the operating rod 2. By releasing this engagement, the pawl 16 is pushed at the inner end by the spring 18 to again engage with the ratchet wheel 10. By engagement of the pawl 16 with the ratchet wheel 10, the pawl 16 revolves with the rotary discs 1 l and 12, as it is connected by the connecting shaft 13 to the rotary disc 12 and it makes a half revolution of approximately 180. In this position (FIG. 2b), the projection 17 of the pawl 16 contacts and engages with the pawl-engaging rod 8 connected by the connecting rod 6 with the operating lever 2 and is released from engagement with the ratchet wheel 10 similarly as in the case of engagement with the operating lever 2 as previously described and stops the operation of the rotary discs 11 and 12. By rotation of the rotary discs 11 and 12 through 180, the arm 19 revolvably secured at one end to the shaft 20 on the rotary disc 11 moves to the forward end of its path of travel (FIG. 2b). The movement of the arm 19 to the forward end of its path of travel pushes forward the operating projection 30 which is inserted into the slot 21 at the forward endof the arm 19 so that it revolves the roller rotation arm 27 forwardly against the return force of the tension spring 28. The roller 25 in relation to the arm 27 is constructed so as to revolve only in one direction same as in the ratchet mechanism, so that it does not revolve itself. By this revolution, the printing means 32 (FIGS. 1 and 3) secured to the arm 19 and the reciprocably-movable member or slide 45 move in the forward direction. During forward movement of this printing means 32, a slidable projection 41 projecting at the lower end of the printing means 32 slidably pushes forward the outer edge 39 of the movable arm 36 of arcuate shape pivoted on the fixed shaft 37 of the movable arm 36. By this slide movement, the movable arm 36 to which is fixed the rod 35 having the pad roller 34 at one end can swing on the shaft 37 of the movable rod, since it is formed in an arcuate shape (FIG. 3), and it applies ink by pad roller 34 on the letter surface 42 of the printing means 32. By preferred adjustment of the diameter and arcuate angle of the movable arm 36, the application of ink on the letter surface 42 may be made uniformly corresponding to the advance of the-printing means 32 in the direction to the label 44. The pad roller 34 which has accomplished inking on the letter surface 42 is pushed by the pressure of the projection 41 out to the side of the printing means 32 and out of the casing 26 through the outlet opening 40 of the pad roller into the dotted line position of FIG. 3, without obstructing the printing of the printing means 32 on the label 44 on the tape 23, now backed up against the member 60, whereupon the letter surface 42 of the printing means 32 impresses printing on the label 44. Simultaneously with the printing on the label 44 by the printing means 32, the operating rod 55 which is pivotally connected to the upper part of the printing means 32 engages the step 54.

The operator now releases the operating lever 2 which returns, by return force of the spring 5, to the initial position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2a, and its upper end moves close to the outer periphery of the rotary discs 11 and 12. The pawl-engaging rod 8 is thereby pushed rearwardly by the connecting rod 6, away from the outer periphery of the rotary discs 11 and 12, and releases its engagement with the projection 17 at the outer end of the pawl 16, this engaging with the ratchet wheel 10, so that the rotary discs 11 and 12 further revolve approximately return to the position before operation (FIG. 20). By the rotation of these rotary discs 11 and 12, the arm 19 also returns to the condition before operation. By return of the arm 19, the roller rotation arm 27 returns to the initial position shown in FIG. 1 by the return force of the tension spring 28. The roller rotation arm 27 is so constructed that it can revolve the roller 25 only in one direction by ratchet mechanism. At the time of this return movement, the roller is rotated in a clockwise direction to pull the tape 23 upward and reversely around the top of the member 60 to push the label 44 printed by the printing means 32 toward the window 49. At the same time, the printing means 32 secured at its lower end to the arm 19 and the reciprocably movable member or slide 45 return to the condition before operation together with the arm 19 (FIG. 2a). Following the receding movement of the printing means 32 and projection 41 thereon, each roller 34 on the movable arm 36 of arcuate shape presses against its respective letter printing surface 42 again by return force of the spring 38, applyingink, and returns to the solid-line condition before operation shown in FIG. 3 together with the pad rollers 34. With the return of the printing means 32 and the reciprocably-movable member or slide 45, the step 54 on the upper portion 52 of the label pushing-out member 43 in engagement with the rod 55 is pulled by the rod 55 so as to pull the presser rod 47 rearwardly and consequently stretch the push member tension spring 51. The rod 55 at a suitable position contacts the tapered projection 57 and is pushed downwards, whereby its engagement with the step 54 of the label pushing-out member 43is released. By the release of its engagement with the rod 55, the label pushing-out member 43 is pushed outward by the action of the push rod 47 against its inner end, impelled by the return of the push member tension spring 51. As a result, the push portion 46 at its outer end is then pushed out of the window 49 and in doing so detaches the label 44 from the reversely-bent tape 23 at the rounded upper end of the member 60 and adheres it to the article.

The second embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8.

In the labeller shown, the main body of the casing 26a is provided with a window 49a which passes the labels detached from a tape similar to the label-holding tape 23 of FIG. 1 and similarly moved by the ratchet roller a, a hollow hand grip la and a support bracket 59a holding the tape with labels. A tape feed drum opening and closing member 60a having a tape feed drum 25a and a contact member 62 adjacent the window 49a is pivoted at its upper end upon a pivot pin 63. The hand grip la has a main motor switch Is and it houses a motor. The contact member 62 at its lower end has a handle and a bore adapted to swing over an end of the feed drum axle, thus enabling the openingand-closing member 60a to be pulled sidewise off the end of the feed drum axle and then swung around the pin 63a toward and away from the window 49a, and at its upper end engages the contact switch 2s in the casing 26a so as to close the switch by contact of the contact member 62 with the article to be labelled. The pushing-out member 43a has a resilient label push-out portion 46a at the forward end thereof. The label pushout portion 46a is positioned opposite the window 49a. The pushing-out member 43a is movably supported by being guided along the slot 480 and is connected to a spring 51a on each side thereof and is connected to a return spring 64 in the middle thereof, the opposite ends of these springs being anchored in the casing 26a, as shown in FIG. 5. The pushing-out member 43a has a stepped portion 54a by which the member 43a is movable to its retracted position against the force of the springs 51a by movable pawl 55a pivoted to the top of the printing means 32 and has depending from a guide 65 a pawl disengaging piece 57a mounted in a position adapted to release the pawl 55a from the stepped portion 54a. The pushing-out member 43a is guided by a slot 65a in the guide 65, as shown in FIG. 6.

The printing member 32a is mounted on a reciprocably-movable member or slide a to reciprocate it and the printing elements thereon similar to the printing element 42 of FIG. 1. The ink rollers 34a are supported by arm 36a as shown in FIG. 7, said arm 36a being urged by spring 38a to be swung into and out of the casing 26a for applying ink on the printing elements of the printing member 32a by the reciprocably-movable roller 411a mounted on the reciprocably movable member or slide 45a. The roller body 34a can provide threecolor printing but it is capable of being applied for a desired number of colors. The reciprocably movable member or slide 45a is pivoted by pin 21a to the forward end of a rod 1% the rearward end of which is connected to a rotary cam disc 1 1a by pin 20a whereby the rod 19a makes a reciprocal movement with the revolution of the cam disc 11a. The movable member 45 a is drivingly connected through a feed pawl and ratchet device 27a to thereby drive the tape feed drum 25a.

The electrical driving means may be of a direct electromagnetic reciprocating type, which may, as shown in FIG. 8, comprise the main switch Is, the normally-open contact switch 2s, a normally-closed driving switch 3s closing by engagement with the cam disc 11a, a relay switch Rs, a relay having a relay coil Re and contacts Ra and Rb, the motor M, a drive circuit having an electromagnetic clutch c, and the cam disc 11a driven through a speed reducing mechanism from electromagnetic clutch c. The contact Rb is opened when the relay 99?! .Refisaqya ed in thet ox xt llyosd sircuit.,

Operation of the electric driving mechanism is dek i be ra -mh Main switch Is is closed and motor M is revolved.

Contact piece 62 is placed in contact with the contacted article to be labelled. Contact switch 2s then is closed. Electromagnetic clutch c is actuated through a circuit having a contact Rb. Thereby, the cam disc 11a is rotated. During almost the entire revolution of the cam disc 11a, the normally-closed driving switch 3s remains closed and the relay switch Rs is closed. Then the relay coil Re is actuated and contact Rb is opened. The electromagnetic clutch c is actuated only when a current passes through the driving switch 3s. When the projection on the cam disc 11a rotates through a single revolution, it opens the driving switch 3s. The electromagnetic clutch does not actuate after it stops with one rotation of the cam disc ll 1a. If the window 62 is moved away from the article, the contact switch 2s is opened whereupon current to the relay coil R0 is cut off. Thereafter, all moving parts return to their initial positions. The operation can be repeated in the same way.

Operation of the labeller is described below. The tape similar to the tape 23 of FIG. 1 with a label stripped off its forward end and carried by the support 59a is inserted between the tape guide 66. The tape is then passed around the roller 67 and is bent reversely at the opening 49a and led downward so as to wind on the drum 25a under pressure. of the tape presser roller 310. Main switch lls is closed for revolving the motor M only. The contact piece 62 is pressed against the article to be labelled, closing the contact switch 2s, whereby the cam disc llla is rotated. The rod 19a imparts a forward movement to the reciprocably movable member or slide 45a in response to the rotation of the cam disc Ha by the shaft of the motor M so that the printing member 32a is moved forward by the reciprocably'movable member or slide 45a and makes a printing operation. During this movement, the roller 34a attached to the arm 36a moves outward while applying ink on the printing surface of the printing member 320 by engagement of the roller 41a with the arm 36a as shown in FIG. 7. The pawl 55a engages with the stepped portion 54a of the pushing-out member 430, whereupon the pawl of the feed pawl and ratchet device 27a is moved forward by the movable member 45a. By further rotation of the cam disc 11a, the rearward motion of the rod 19a causes the reciprocably movable member or slide 45a to move rearwardly, whereupon the feed pawl engages with the ratchet of the pawl and ratchet device 27a, and revolves the tape feed drum 25a, thereby imparting a feed to the tape. The pad rollers 34a also start to return to their initial position by contact of the arm 36a with the movable roller 41a. As the pawl 55a withdraws the pushing-out member 43a rearwardly, it engages the inclined portion of the pawl disengaging piece 57a, and moves downwards so as to be released from engagement with the step 54a of the pushing-out member 43a, whereupon the pushing out member 43a is propelled forward by the force of the springs 51a and applies labels which have been fed to the window 49a by the tape as it is bent reversely thereat in passing downward to the feed roller 25a. The pushing-out member 43a is then retracted by the spring 64 and the cam disc lla stops at its initial position in response to its opening the switch 3s to deenergize the magnetic clutch c.

In the manually-operated third embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the main body of the casing 26b comprises a contact member 49b with a label outlet window (not shown in FIG. 9 but similar to the windows 49 and 49a of FIGS. 1 and 4) through which pass labels detached from a tape similar to the tape 23 of FIG. 1, a hand grip 1b and a bracket 59b to hold the said tape bearing the labels. A feed drum opening and closing member 60b near its lower end is provided with a handle and is bored to slide onto and off the end of the axle of the tape feed drum 25b as in FIG. 4, and to enable the contact member 49b to be pivoted on pin 63b to be swung toward and away from the above-mentioned label outlet window 68. The casing 26b is provided with a return spring 70 for retracting the hand lever 69. The contact member 49a is secured to the upper end of the feed drum opening and closing member 60b and is positioned opposite the above-mentioned window at an interval from an article to which labels are to be attached. The label pushing-out member 43b has a resilient forward end portion 46b at the forward end thereof adjacent the window, the pushing-out member 43b being movably carried and guided along casing side wall slots 71 similar to the slots 48a of FIG. by force of springs 51b similar to the springs 51a of FIG. 5 and a return spring (not shown) similar to the spring 64 of FIG. 5. An attachment guide 65b, having a stepped portion 54b is movable against the force of the spring 51b into a position where it is engaged with a pawl 55b for moving the pushing-out member 43b, and a pawl disengaging member (not shown) similar in action to the members 57 and 57a of FIGS. 1 and 4 is provided on the guide 65b at a position to release the pawl 55b from the stepped portion 54b. The label push-out member 43b is guided in its reciprocation by a guide slot 71 in the attachment guide 65b. The printing means 32b is similar to the printing means 32 and 32a of FIGS. 1 and 4 and is attached by screws 74, 75 to a movable member 45b with the printing surface variable by movement and rotation of a knob 76. An ink roller 34b is carried by an arm 36b similar to the

arms

36 and 36a of FIGS. 3 and 7, which is similarly urged by a spring (not shown) to swing into the casing 26b. The arm 36b is adapted to so swing for application of ink on the printing surface of the printing member 32b by a movable roller 41b depending from the printing means 32b. The movable member 45b is-connected by a pin and slot connection 77 to the upper end of the hand lever 69. By swinging the hand lever 69 toward the hand grip 1b, the movable member 45b can perform a reciprocating movement to and fro along the slot 78 in the casing 26b. The tape feed drum 25b is appropriately rotated by a feed pawl 27b. A ratchet wheel R which is engaged by the pawl 27b drives the tape feed drum 25b for feeding the tape. The tape feeding is assisted by a roller 31b made of rubber or like material supported on the casing and rotatable by engagement with the tape on the tape feed drum 25b. To avoid slippage of the tape from the tape feed drum 25b, the tape is engaged by projections such as peripherally-spaced needle teeth 24b on the drum 25b. Feeding of the tape is accomplished by gear transmission with rotation speed of the roller 31b being made more rapid than that of the drum. The label is detached from the tape as described above in connection with FIGS. 1 and 4, when the tape is being reversely adjacent an edge of the window while it is supported on both sides so as to be adequately positioned at the window.

Operation of the labeller mentioned above is described below.

From a roll of tape with labels carried by the bracket 59b is first stripped a label from the forward end thereof. The tape is guided through a tape guide 66b, passed upward around a guide roller 67b and bent reversely downward at an edge of the window, as described above in connection with FIGS. 1 and 4, and thereafter wound on the tape feeding drum 25b under pressure of the tape presser roller 31b. The tape feeding drum 25b can be opened outwardly by swinging outward the lower end of the drum opening and closing member 60b off the end of the axle of the tape feeding drum 25b away from the above-mentioned label outlet window. The contact member 49b containing the label outlet window is placed at a location on the article where it is desired to position the label on the article. The lever 69 is then swung toward the casing portion lb to slide the reciprocably-movable or slide member 45b and the label printing means 32b forward in order to thereby effect the printing by means of the label printing means 32b. During this movement, the pad rollers 34b mounted on the arm 36b move out of the path of travel of the printing means 32b after applying ink on the printing surface of the printing member 32b in response to the engagement of the movable roller 41b on the printing means 32b with the arm 36b. The pushing-out member 43b is meanwhile in the starting position shown in FIG. 9. The movable pawl 55b engages with the stepped portion 54b of the pushing-out member 43b by the upwardly urged force of its spring. When, after being operated as described above, the lever 69 is swung back to its starting position of FIG. 9 by the return spring 70, the reciprocably-movable or slide member 45b withdraws rearwardly. The feed pawl 27b then engages with the ratchet wheel of the tape feed drum 25b, revolves the tape feed drum 25b and thereby provides the feed to the tape, and the pad rollers 34b are returned to their iniital positions through contact with their supporting arm 36b and movable roller 41b. The movable pawl 55b then retracts the push- 9 ing-out member 43b to its starting position shown in FIG. 9. In a suitable position, the attaching member is disengaged by a pawl releasing member similar to the pawl releasing members 57 and 57a of FIGS. 1 and 4. The pushing-out member 43b effects attachment of the label by the label attachment member 46b to the article by the force of the spring 51b in the above-described way. The pushing-out member 43b is then moved back to its starting position shown in FIG. 9 by the return spring and stops at the initial position.

Although the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, these may be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A labeller comprising a casing which is provided with a handle and with a tape support for supporting a tape carrying detachable labels having pressure sensitive adhesive on the backs thereof, means for detaching each label from the tape by reversely turning the tape, a tape feed means, a label outlet opening disposed adjacent said label-detaching means and having associated therewith a label holder supporting the detached label, a reciprocable spring-actuated label pushing-out member having thereon a label pushing-out applicator movable to and fro through said opening against a detached label on said label holder to forcibly affix said label to the article to be labelled and including at least one pushing-out spring; a reciprocably-movable labelleractuating member operatively engaging and disengaging said tape feed means and operatively connected to said pushing-out member, said reciprocably-movable member being arranged to actuate said tape feed means and also to engage said pushing-out member to move together therewith, means responsive to the arla l drival of said reciprocably-movable member at a predetermined position of said pushing-out member while said pushing-out spring is in a tensioned condition to release said pushing-out member and its applicator to propel said detached label through said outlet opening into adhesive engagement with the article to be labelled, an electric motor mounted in said handle, and reciprocating mechanism operatively connecting said motor to said reciprocably-movable member for electrically reciprocating said reciprocably-movable memher.

2. A labeller according to claim 1 wherein said movable memberis provided with a pawl engaging said pushing-out member at the end of movement of said pushing-out member in one direction and moving together with said pushing-out member by movement in the opposite direction and wherein said casing is provided with a pawl-releasing member releasing the above engagement at a predetermined position of said pushing-out member with said pushing-out spring in a tensioned condition 3. A labeller accordingv to claim 1 wherein said reciprocably-movable member consists of a slide movable toward and away from said handle and. wherein said slide has said pawl connected thereto which engages the engaging portion of the pushing-out member.

4. A labeller according to claim 1 wherein said label holder adjacent said opening is provided with a contact member adapted to close an electrical circuit making a driving connection between the electric motor and said reciprocably-movable member in response to contact of said contact member with the article to be

Claims

1. A labeller comprising a casing which is provided with a handle and with a tape support for supporting a tape carrying detachable labels having pressure sensitive adhesive on the backs thereof, means for detaching each label from the tape by reversely turning the tape, a tape feed means, a label outlet opening disposed adjacent said label-detaching means and having associated therewith a label holder supporting the detached label, a reciprocable spring-actuated label pushing-out member having thereon a label pushing-out applicator movable to and fro through said opening against a detached label on said label holder to forcibly affix said label to the article to be labelled and including at least one pushing-out spring; a reciprocablymovable labeller-actuating member operatively engaging and disengaging said tape feed means and operatively connected to said pushing-out member, said reciprocably-movable member being arranged to actuate said tape feed means and also to engage said pushing-out member to move together therewith, means responsive to the arrival of said reciprocably-movable member at a predetermined position of said pushing-out member while said pushing-out spring is in a tensioned condition to release said pushing-out member and its applicator to propel said detached label through said outlet opening into adhesive engagement with the article to be labelled, an electric motor mounted in said handle, and reciprocating mechanism operatively connecting said motor to said reciprocably-movable member for electrically reciprocating said reciprocably-movable member.

2. A labeller according to claim 1 wherein said movable member is provided with a pawl engaging said pushing-out member at the end of movement of said pushing-out member in one direction and moving together with said pushing-out member by movement in the opposite direction and wherein said casing is provided with a pawl-releasing member releasing the above engagement at a predetermined position of said pushing-out member with said pushing-out spring in a tensioned condition.

3. A labeller according to claim 1 wherein said reciprocably-movable member consists of a slide movable toward and away from said handle and wherein said slide has said pawl connected thereto which engages the engaging portion of the pushing-out member.

4. A labeller according to claim 1 wherein said label holder adjacent said opening is provided with a contact member adapted to close an electrical circuit making a driving connection between the electric motor and said reciprocably-movable member in response to contact of said contact member with the article to be labelled.