LABEL PRINTERS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a label printer for printing self-adhesive, carrierless continuous tape labels with a printhead and a driven printing roller, wherein the continuous tape labels can be guided along a label web between the printhead and the printing roller, and a wiper element downstream of the printing roller in the transport direction of the continuous tape labels for wiping the labels from the printing roller.

[0002] Such a label printer is known from document DE 10 2009 014 992 A1. The stripper element is located behind the printing roller and immediately adjacent to it, viewed in the transport direction of the continuous tape labels. The stripper element is designed to strip the self-adhesive, linerless continuous tape labels, also known as linerless labels, from the printing roller, or to ensure that the labels do not adhere to the printing roller with their adhesive-coated underside. Behind the stripper element, the respective printed label is then separated from the continuous tape labels by means of a cutter, such as that known from document DE 199 58 274 A1, or a tear-off edge.The wiper element is particularly necessary when the next label has already partially passed through the printing area between the printhead and the printing roller, and the labels are to be printed in this already passed section as well. The continuous tape labels are then retracted (reversed) at least to the beginning of the next label where the previous label was cut off, with the wiper element preventing the beginning of the continuous tape from sticking to the printing roller.

[0003] The printing roller is a wear part that may need to be replaced once or several times during the label printer's lifespan. However, replacing the printing roller is a complex process and often requires a service technician.

[0004] A label printer having the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known from documents US 7,186,043 B2 and US 9,604,474 B2.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of providing a label printer of the type mentioned above which allows for easy replacement of the printing roller.

[0006] This problem is solved by a label printer having the features of independent claim 1, and in particular by the fact that the printing roller is inserted into a printing roller receptacle of the label printer and is held securely in the printing roller receptacle by the wiper element.

[0007] According to the invention, the printing roller is not installed in a complicated manner within the label printer; rather, it is only necessary to insert the printing roller into a printing roller holder and then securely hold it in position by the existing wiper element. The printing roller can then be replaced even by an untrained operator.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the label printer comprises a cutter downstream of the stripper element in the transport direction of the continuous tape labels for separating the continuous tape labels. The cutter includes a transport roller and a cutting unit that is linearly movable parallel to the axis of rotation of the transport roller. The continuous tape labels can be guided between the transport roller and the cutting unit, and the transport roller of the cutter is mounted on the stripper element. The transport roller serves as a counter-support for a cutting blade of the cutting unit. Mounting the transport roller of the cutter directly on the stripper element allows for a compact design.In particular, the distance between the printing roller and the transport roller of the cutter can be kept small, so that any reversal of the continuous tape labels can be minimized, or even completely avoided, thereby increasing the printing speed of the label printer.

[0009] To support the cutter on the stripping element, the stripping element can comprise an elongated stripping section whose longitudinal extent runs parallel to the axis of rotation of the printing roller and which has, at its two ends lying in the direction of the axis of rotation of the printing roller, a receiving section, in particular with a respective edge recess, for the two axial ends of the cutter's transport roller. The transport roller can then simply be inserted into the two receiving sections, in particular the two edge recesses.

[0010] It can be provided that the respective axial end of the transport roller is secured in the respective recess of the respective receiving section of the wiper element by a respective axially inserted bearing sleeve. Alternatively, it can also be provided that the respective axial end of the transport roller is inserted into the respective recess of the respective receiving section of the wiper element by forming a respective snap connection. In In both cases, the transport roller can be stored on the scraper element in a particularly simple way.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the label printer comprises a housing box and a housing element, in particular a door, attached to an open side of the housing box and hinged about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position, wherein the printhead, and in particular the aforementioned cutting unit, is mounted in the housing box, and the printing roller and the wiper element, and in particular the aforementioned transport roller, are mounted on the hinged housing element. In the open position, the printing roller is pivoted out of the housing box with the hinged housing element and is thus particularly easily accessible for replacement.

[0012] In particular, the printing roller can be securely fixed in the label printer when the hinged housing element is in the closed position by a locking device located in the housing, which becomes effective when the hinged housing element is closed. This is especially advantageous when the captive mounting of the printing roller in the printing roller receptacle has play due to the wiper element.

[0013] In particular, the hinged housing element can comprise two opposing side panels, each hinged at its first end to a respective side wall of the housing. These side panels extend into the housing box when the hinged housing element is closed, and the pressure roller receptacle, specifically in the form of a recess at the edge for the two axial ends of the pressure roller, is formed on these side panels, particularly at their respective second ends. This allows for simple and stable mounting of the pressure roller. In particular, the pressure roller can be easily inserted into the two recesses at the edge. The aforementioned locking device can, for example, comprise two stops that press against the two axial ends of the pressure roller as it pivots into the housing box when the hinged housing element is closed.

[0014] Preferably, the printing roller is indirectly supported at each of its two axial ends in the printing roller housing via a bearing element, in particular a bearing sleeve. The two bearing elements increase the bearing surface area for both axial ends of the printing roller. Furthermore, the technical flexibility of the printing roller's support can be increased. For example, the respective bearing element can be subjected to a spring force, as explained below, without affecting the rotational movement of the printing roller.

[0015] The two side panels can be connected to each other via a cross brace. It is preferred that the wiper element is attached to the cross brace of the hinged housing element. This results in a particularly simple and at the same time particularly stable construction.

[0016] The printing roller can be removed from and inserted into the printing roller holder at an angle between 60° and 120° to the label web. Within this angle range, the secure retention of the printing roller in the printing roller holder is particularly easy to achieve thanks to the wiper element.

[0017] The wiper element and the pressure roller can overlap by 0.3 mm to 3 mm, preferably 0.3 mm to 2 mm, when projected onto the label web. This ensures that the wiper element's function is maintained even during the aforementioned reversal of the continuous tape labels. The direct or closest distance between the wiper element and the pressure roller can be, for example, in the range of 0.5 mm to 3 mm. The diameter of the pressure roller can be, for example, in the range of 10 mm to 35 mm.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the printing roller is made of an elastically deformable material, in particular silicone, and, under sufficiently high force, can be forced out of and into the printing roller receptacle past the wiper element without damage, forming an elastic deformation. The force required for this can be adjusted via the aforementioned overlap. This design is particularly cost-effective. No additional retaining means are required to hold the printing roller in the printing roller receptacle.

[0019] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the printing roller is slidably mounted, particularly by means of an elongated slot arrangement and / or transversely to a removal direction of the printing roller, between an operating position in which the printing roller is held securely in the printing roller receptacle by the wiper element and in which the printing roller is pre-tensioned by a spring device, and a removal position in which the printing roller can be removed from the printing roller receptacle without resistance from the wiper element. With this design, only a small force is required to overcome the pre-tension of the spring device in order to move the printing roller into the removal position.

[0020] According to another embodiment of the invention, the wiper element is detachably attached to the label printer, wherein the printing roller can be removed from the printing roller housing without resistance from the wiper element after loosening, in particular unscrewing, especially by means of a knurled screw. This design is more complex for the operator, but intuitive.

[0021] Preferably, the printing roller can be removed from and inserted into the printing roller housing without tools, particularly as described in the preceding embodiments. This makes replacing the printing roller especially easy and convenient.

[0022] The invention further relates to a scale, in particular a retail scale, with a label printer as described above.

[0023] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims, the description of the figures and the drawing.

[0024] The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows, Fig. 1 a scale according to the invention, in particular a retail scale, with a label printer according to the invention having a housing box which is closed by a hinged housing element, Fig. 2 the label printer according to Fig. 1 in a front view in the area of ​​a label dispenser, wherein a front cover plate of the hinged housing element and a front cover section of the housing box are omitted, Fig. 3 a perspective view of a frame construction of the hinged housing element with two side walls and a cross brace according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 4 the frame construction according to Fig. 3 with a printing roller, Fig. 5 the frame construction according to Fig. 4 with the pressure roller, a scraper element and a transport roller of a cutter, Fig. 6 the frame construction according to Fig. 5 with the pressure roller, the wiper element and the transport roller in a view from direction A according to Fig. 5 , with one of the two side cheeks omitted, Fig. 7 the scraper element and the transport roller made of Fig. 6 in a single view, Fig. 8 the scraper element made of Fig. 7 In a single view, Fig. 9 shows a representation of the bearing of the printing roller according to Fig. 4 in one of the two side cheeks, and Fig. 10 shows another embodiment of the invention.

[0025] The in Fig. 1 The illustrated, exemplary retail scale 11 includes a load platform 13, which determines the weight of an item placed on it. This weight is displayed on a screen 15 for the customer and on a screen 17 for the salesperson. The screen 17 is a touchscreen, allowing the retail scale 11 to be operated via this device. An identification number (PLU) assigned to the respective item can be entered via the touchscreen 17. Using the weight, a price for the item can then be calculated and displayed on both screens 15 and 17. Furthermore, the retail scale includes a label printer 19 for printing a label with the weight, the name of the item, and the calculated price.

[0026] The label printer 19 has a housing box 21 which is open at the front, wherein this open side of the housing box 21 can be closed by a housing element 23 attached to the housing box 21 which can be folded about a pivot axis D, wherein in Fig. 1 The closed position, and thus the operating position, of the hinged housing element 23 is shown. The label printer 19 is operated with self-adhesive, linerless continuous tape labels. Inside the label printer 19, there is a receptacle (not shown) for a corresponding label roll on which the continuous tape labels are wound. The label roll can be inserted into the receptacle when the hinged housing element 23 is in the open position. The continuous tape labels are guided along a predefined transport path within the label printer 19. After each label has been printed, it is cut from the continuous tape and output at a label output 25 of the label printer 19.

[0027] The Fig. 2 shows the label printer 19 in the area of ​​the label output 25, wherein a front cover plate 27 of the hinged housing element 23 and a front cover section 29 of the housing box 21 (cf. Fig. 1 ) are omitted, so that the interior of the label printer 19 is visible in this area. As from Fig. 2 As can be seen, the label printer 19 has a cutter 31 with which the labels can be separated from the continuous tape. Viewed in the transport direction of the continuous tape labels, the cutter 31 is located next to a printhead 41, which is only in Fig. 6 and is only shown schematically there, and a pressure roller 43 driven about a rotary axis T (see the Fig. 4-6 , 9 und 10 ) of the label printer 19, between which the continuous tape labels are fed. The printhead 41 and the print roller 43 are in Fig. 2 arranged behind or below the cutter 31 and thus in Fig. 2 not visible.

[0028] The cutter 31 includes according to Fig. 2 A driven transport roller 33, rotatable about a pivot axis R, is provided for the continuous tape labels. Furthermore, a cutting unit 35 is provided, which is linearly movable parallel to the pivot axis R of the transport roller 33. For this purpose, the cutting unit 35 is designed as a spindle nut, which is driven by an electric motor 39 in both axial directions of the threaded rod 37 via a threaded rod 37, with which it forms a threaded spindle. The self-adhesive, backingless continuous tape labels are guided between the transport roller 33 and the cutting unit 35, with the transport roller 33 acting as a counter-holder for the cutting unit 35. In Fig. 6 The knife unit 35 is shown only schematically.

[0029] The label printer 19 is constructed such that the printhead 41 and the cutting unit 35 are mounted in the housing 21, and that the printing roller 43 and the transport roller 33 are mounted on the hinged housing element 23, as can be seen in particular from the Fig. 5 and 6 It is evident in which a frame construction 45 of the hinged housing element 23 (cf. Fig. 3 ) together with the pressure roller 43 and the transport roller 33, which are each mounted on the frame structure 45. The pressure roller 43 and the transport roller 33 are thus pivoted into the housing box 21 when the hinged housing element 23 is closed (see the closing direction S in Fig. 3 ) and thus only assume their operating position when the hinged housing element 23 is in the closed position.

[0030] The frame construction 45 of the hinged housing element 23 comprises according to Fig. 3 Two opposing side panels 47, each hinged at one end to a side wall of the housing box 21, with the two hinge points 49 forming the pivot axis D of the hinged housing element 23. In the closed position of the housing element 23, the two side panels 47 extend into the housing box 21. Furthermore, the frame structure 45 includes a cross brace 51 that connects the two side panels 47.

[0031] At their second ends, the two side walls 47 each have a marginal recess 53 into which the two axial ends of the pressure roller 43 are inserted, as shown in particular in Fig. 4 The two edge recesses 53 together form a receptacle 55 for the printing roller 43. The two axial ends of the printing roller 43 are inserted into the two edge recesses 53 indirectly via a respective bearing element 57 in the form of a bearing sleeve, as can be seen from Fig. 9 This results in the following: Between the two side walls 47, there are also deflection rollers (not shown) for the transport path of the continuous tape labels.

[0032] Furthermore, a stripping element 61 is provided which, viewed in the transport direction of the continuous tape labels, is located immediately downstream of the printing roller 43 and immediately upstream of the cutter 31, i.e., arranged between the printing roller 43 and the transport roller 33 of the cutter 31, as shown in particular in the Fig. 5 and 6The stripping element 61 serves to strip the self-adhesive, carrier-free continuous tape labels from the printing roller 43 or to prevent the beginning of the continuous tape from adhering to the printing roller 43, especially after a label has been cut off and possibly after reversing the continuous tape labels.

[0033] The wiper element 61 is also attached to the hinged housing element 23 and is pivoted into the housing box 21 when the hinged housing element 23 is closed. Specifically, the wiper element 61 is attached to the outside of the cross member 51 of the frame structure 45 of the hinged housing element 23, viewed in the closing direction S of the hinged housing element 23, by means of two screws 59 (see the Fig. 2 and 6 ).

[0034] The stripping element 61 also serves as a holder and bearing for the transport roller 33 of the cutter 31 (see figure). Fig. 7 For this purpose, the stripping element 61 has, in addition to an elongated stripping section 63, the longitudinal extent of which is oriented parallel to the axis of rotation T of the pressure roller 43 and which fulfills the aforementioned stripping function, also two receiving sections 65 for the transport roller 33 of the cutter 31. The two receiving sections 65 each have a marginal recess 67 into which the two axial ends of the transport roller 33 are inserted (see Figure 1). Fig. 8 The two recesses 67 are bounded by two respective legs 69 into which the two axial ends of the transport roller 33 are inserted. Subsequently, the axial ends of the transport roller 33 inserted into the two recesses 67 are secured in the receiving sections 65 by a respective axially insertable bearing sleeve (not shown).

[0035] Furthermore, the stripper element 61 is arranged so close to the printing roller 43, and the removal direction of the printing roller 43 from the printing roller receptacle 55 is oriented such that the printing roller 43 is held securely in the printing roller receptacle 55 by the stripper element 61. Many geometrically different variations are conceivable. For example, and preferably, the stripper element 61 – viewed in a projection onto the label web 73 – has an overlap d of 0.3 mm to 3 mm with the printing roller 43 (see figure). Fig. 6 ) and the removal direction of the printing roller 43 from the printing roller receptacle 55 is oriented at approximately 70° to the label web 73.

[0036] Despite the captive mounting, the printing roller 43 can nevertheless be easily removed from the printing roller housing 55 and replaced. For this purpose, the printing roller 43 is made of an elastically deformable material such as silicone and can therefore be forced out of the printing roller housing 55 past the wiper element 61. In this process, the printing roller 43 deforms elastically and thus without damage. Similarly, the new printing roller 43 can be forced into the printing roller housing 55. The replacement of the printing roller 43 can therefore be carried out without tools.

[0037] Of course, it is also possible to first unscrew the wiper element 61 from the crossbar 51 and then remove the pressure roller 43 from the pressure roller receptacle 55 without still being held by the wiper element 61.

[0038] In Fig. 10 A further embodiment of the invention is shown, in which the pressure roller 43 is mounted via bearing elements 57, in particular bearing sleeves, in a pressure roller receptacle 55, in particular edge recesses 53, of the side walls 47 of the hinged housing element 23. Each of the two bearing elements 57 has an elongated hole 71 extending perpendicular to the removal direction of the pressure roller 43, in which the two axial ends of the pressure roller 43 are displaceable between the illustrated operating position and a removal position. In the operating position, to which the pressure roller 43 is pre-tensioned by means of a spring device (not shown), the pressure roller 43 is held in place by the Fig. 10 The wiper element 61 (not shown) is held securely in the printing roller receptacle 55. In the removal position, the printing roller 43 can be removed from the printing roller receptacle 55 without contact with the wiper element 61. Bezugszeichenliste

[0039] 11 Store scale 13 Load plate 15 Customer display 17 Operator touchscreen 19 Label printer 21 Housing box 23 Hinged housing element 25 Label output 27 Front cover plate 29 Front cover section 31 Cutter 33 Transport roller 35 Knife unit 37 Threaded rod 39 Electric motor 41 Print head 43 Print roller 45 Frame construction 47 Side panel 49 Pivot point 51 Cross brace 53 Edge recess 55 Print roller mount 57 Bearing element 59 Screw 61 Wiper element 63 Wiper section 65 Mounting section 67 Edge recess 69 Leg 71 Slotted hole 73 Label track AR Direction D Swivel axis d Overlap R Rotation axis S Closing direction T Rotation axis

Claims

1. A label printer for printing self-adhesive linerless endless tape labels, said label printer comprising a printhead (41) and a driven print roller (43), wherein the endless tape labels can be led along a label track (73) between the printhead (41) and the print roller (43); and a stripping element (61) for stripping off the labels from the print roller (43), said stripping element (61) being connected downstream of the print roller (43) in a transport direction of the endless tape labels, wherein the print roller (43) is inserted into a print roller receiver (55) of the label printer (19) and is captively held in the print roller receiver (55) by the stripping element (61), characterized in that the print roller (43) can be removed from the print roller receiver (55) and inserted into the print roller receiver (55) at an angle in the range from 60° to 120° with respect to the label track (73).

2. A label printer according to claim 1, characterized in that the label printer (19) comprises a cutter (31) for separating the endless tape labels, said cutter (31) being connected downstream of the stripping element (61) in the transport direction of the endless tape labels and comprising a transport roller (33) and a blade unit (35) travelable in a linear manner in parallel with the axis of rotation (R) of the transport roller (33), with the endless tape labels being able to be led between the transport roller (33) and the blade unit (35), and with the transport roller (33) of the cutter (31) being supported at the stripping element (61).

3. A label printer according to claim 2, characterized in that the stripping element (61) comprises an elongated stripping section (63) whose longitudinal extent extends in parallel with the axis of rotation (T) of the print roller (43) and which, at its two ends disposed in the direction of the axis of rotation (T) of the print roller (43), has a respective reception section (65), in particular having a respective edge-side recess (67), for the two axial ends of the transport roller (33) of the cutter (31).

4. A label printer according to claim 3, characterized in that the respective axial end of the transport roller (33) is secured in the respective recess (67) of the respective reception section (65) of the stripping element (61) by a respective axially inserted bearing sleeve.

5. A label printer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the label printer (19) comprises a housing casing (21); and a housing element (23), in particular a door, which is attached to an open side of the housing casing (21) and which can be folded about a pivot axis (D) between a closed position and an open position, with the printhead (41) being attached in the housing casing (21) and the print roller (43) and the stripping element (61) being attached to the foldable housing element (23).

6. A label printer according to claim 5, characterized in that the foldable housing element (23) comprises two mutually oppositely disposed side cheeks (47) which, with their respective first ends, are connected in an articulated manner to a respective side wall of the housing casing (21), which extend into the housing casing (21) in the closed position of the foldable housing element (23), and at which, in particular at their respective second ends, the print roller receiver (55) is formed, in particular in the form of a respective edge-side recess (53) for the two axial ends of the print roller (43).

7. A label printer according to claim 6, characterized in that the print roller (43) is supported indirectly via a bearing element (57), in particular a bearing sleeve, at each of its two axial ends in the print roller receiver (55).

8. A label printer according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the two side cheeks (47) are connected to one another via a transverse strut (51), with the stripping element (61) being attached to the transverse strut (51) of the foldable housing element (23).

9. A label printer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stripping element (61) and the print roller (43) have an overlap (d) in the range from 0.3 mm to 3 mm, preferably from 0.3 mm to 2 mm, in a projection onto the label track (73).

10. A label printer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the print roller (43) is produced from an elastically deformable material, in particular silicone, and can be forced in a non-destructive manner past the stripping element (61) out of the print roller receiver (55) and into the print roller receiver (55) while forming an elastic deformation.

11. A label printer according to any one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the print roller (43) is displaceably supported, in particular by means of an elongate hole arrangement (71) and / or transversely to a removal direction of the print roller (43), between an operating position, in which the print roller (43) is captively held in the print roller receiver (55) by the stripping element (61) and into which the print roller (43) is preloaded by means of a spring device, and a removal position in which the print roller (43) can be removed from the print roller receiver (55) without resistance by the stripping element (61).

12. A label printer according to any one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the stripping element (61) is releasably fastened in the label printer (19), with the print roller (43) being removable from the print roller receiver (55) without resistance by the stripping element (61) after the release, in particular the unscrewing, of the stripping element (61).

13. A label printer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the print roller (43) can be removed from the print roller receiver (55) and inserted into the print roller receiver (55) without tools.

14. A scale, in particular a store scale, comprising a label printer (19) according to any one of the preceding claims.