초록 ▼

A thermal printer and label applicator includes a transport system for moving linerless thermosensitive paper from a stack or roll thereof to a printing station and a cutting station. Thermal print head at the printing station is provided to imprint a preselected heating pattern in the linerless the

A thermal printer and label applicator includes a transport system for moving linerless thermosensitive paper from a stack or roll thereof to a printing station and a cutting station. Thermal print head at the printing station is provided to imprint a preselected heating pattern in the linerless thermosensitive paper in order to form desired visible images thereon. A cutter is provided to separate the linerless thermosensitive paper into individual labels, and a vacuum system transports the separated individual labels from the cutting station to an adhesive activation station and thereafter to a label ejection station. At the adhesive activation station, a heater is provided to activate a delayed action adhesive on the label and thereafter a vacuum/blower system at the label ejection station causes airborne transport of the individual separated labels onto goods which have been placed in receiving position by a conveyor system. Operation of the thermal printer and label applicator is coordinated by a control system.

대표청구항 ▼

A thermal printer and label applicator for use with thermosensitive recording paper comprising a substrate, a thermosensitive color-forming layer disposed on one side of the substrate, and a delayed action adhesive disposed on an opposite side of the substrate, said delayed action adhesive becoming

A thermal printer and label applicator for use with thermosensitive recording paper comprising a substrate, a thermosensitive color-forming layer disposed on one side of the substrate, and a delayed action adhesive disposed on an opposite side of the substrate, said delayed action adhesive becoming tacky upon the application of heat thereto, said printer and applicator comprising: transport means for moving the thermosensitive recording paper from a stack or roll thereof to a printing station and a cutting station, said transport means including a pair of drive rollers disposed for engaging the thermosensitive recording paper therebetween; thermal print head means disposed at said printing station for causing a preselected heating pattern in said thermosensitive recording paper in order to form desired visible images in the thermosensitive color-forming layer; lever means for coordinated engagement and disengagement of the thermal print head means and the drive roller means with the thermosensitive recording paper, said lever means including a first and a second lever, said first lever having one end thereof attached to a thermal print head, said second lever having one end thereof attached to one of said drive rollers, said first and second levers having an opposite end thereof attached to a common shaft and each lever being mounted on a first and second pivot, respectively, with said first and second pivots being disposed between the thermal print head and the drive roller means, said lever means further including means for moving the shaft in order to cause the first and second levers to rotate about the first and second pivots, respectively, to simultaneously engage and disengage the thermal print head means and the drive roller means with the thermosensitive recording paper; cutting means disposed at said cutting station for cutting the thermosensitive recording paper into separated individual labels with visible images thereon; means for handling the separated individual labels without contact with the delayed action adhesive; heating means disposed at an adhesive activation station for heating delayed action adhesive disposed on said separated individual labels in order to cause the delayed action adhesive to become tacky; and, means for discharging the separated individual labels with tacky adhesive thereon.