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2018-04-10
15/492,684
2017-04-20
US 9,937,735 B1
2018-04-10
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Huan Tran
Additon, Higgins & Pendleton, P.A.
2037-04-20
Smart Summary: A self-strip media module is built into a printer to make label printing easier. It has a peel bar that is as long as the platen roller and can rotate to help remove labels from their backing. The media, which consists of labels attached to a liner, is fed over this peel bar and between the platen roller and the printer's mid-chassis. When the peel bar rotates, it pulls the media over the platen roller, allowing a thermal print head to print on the labels. As the printer advances the media, the labels are stripped from the liner, making the process more efficient without needing external accessories. 🚀 TL;DR
A self-strip media module in a printer is provided. The self-strip media module includes a peel bar having a length at least as great as the length of a platen roller and being rotatably engaged at the ends of the platen roller. The media includes a series of labels adhered to a liner. The media is fed over the peel bar and between the platen roller and a mid-chassis. The peel bar may be rotated towards the discharge side of the platen roller, pulling the media over the platen roller and over itself. A thermal print head is lowered onto the media over the platen roller and to print on the labels. The printer advances the media over the peel bar. The labels are stripped from the liner when the media advances around the peel bar.
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B41J11/04 » CPC main
Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers, thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form; Platens Roller platens
B41J2/32 » CPC further
Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
B41J3/4075 » CPC further
Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers, thermal printers characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material Tape printers; Label printers
B65C2009/0093 » CPC further
Details of labelling machines or apparatus; Details of handling backing sheets Devices switching between a peelable and a non peelable position
B65C2009/0096 » CPC further
Details of labelling machines or apparatus; Details of handling backing sheets Rotation of the backing sheet about its longitudinal axis by passing the backing sheet over a roller
B65C9/00 IPC
Details of labelling machines or apparatus
B41J3/407 IPC
Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers, thermal printers characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
The present invention relates to label printers, and more particularly to apparatus and methods to strip labels from the liner carrying the labels.
Generally speaking, many self-strip modules for label printers come as external accessories to the printer. Thus the label strip module would be attached when needed and not integral to the printer.
In other label printers, the self-strip module may be integral to the printer. However prior art printers with self-strip modules may not route the media to a tear bar if the self-strip module is in use. Flexibility of applications, using the self-strip or using the tear bar, is not available with the prior art label printers.
In either of these cases, the self-strip module or the printer becomes less convenient to use if flexibility is desired.
Therefore, a need exists for a self-strip module for a label printer which is integral to the printer and while providing a new path for self-stripping, also returns the media to within the printer and a tear bar, with the self-strip module not being an external module.
Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention embraces a self-strip media module in a printer.
In an exemplary embodiment, the self-strip media module comprises a peel bar. The peel bar has a length at least as great as the length of a platen roller. The peel bar length is perpendicular to the direction in which media is being fed, or in other words, the peel bar has a length in the same direction as the platen roller length dimension. Further, the peel bar is rotatably engaged at the ends of the platen roller. The peel bar is rotatable from a first position on a discharge side of the platen roller to a second position on a feed side of the platen roller. The media is comprised of a series of labels adhered to a liner. The media is fed over the peel bar when the peel bar is in the second position. The media is then fed between the platen roller and a mid-chassis. The peel bar is configured to rotate to a third position towards the discharge side of the platen roller. The peel bar pulls the media over the platen roller and over itself. A thermal print head is configured to be lowered onto the media over the platen roller and to print on the labels. The printer is configured to advance the media over the peel bar. The labels are stripped from the liner when the media advances around the peel bar. The printer is further configured to advance the liner around the peel bar, over the platen roller, and around the platen roller after the label is printed.
In another exemplary embodiment, the media is fed between the platen roller and the mid-chassis on the feed side of the platen roller.
In another exemplary embodiment, the printer includes a liner tear bar. The liner is further fed between the platen roller and the mid-chassis on the feed side of the platen roller to the liner tear bar.
In another exemplary embodiment, the peel bar has N sides in cross-section, where N is a number greater than or equal to 3.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the thermal print head and the media have a coefficient of friction μ1 therein between. The media has a coefficient of friction μ2 when pulled over itself. The media and the platen roller have a coefficient of friction μ3 therein between. The coefficient of friction μ3 is greater than μ1 and greater than μ2.
In another exemplary embodiment, the thermal print head and the media have a coefficient of friction μ1 therein between. The media has a coefficient of friction μ2 when pulled over itself. The media and the platen roller have a coefficient of friction μ3 therein between. The coefficient of friction μ3 is greater than the sum of μ1 and μ2.
In another exemplary embodiment, the peel bar has a longitudinally extending edge whereby the label strips from the liner as the media advances around the edge of the peel bar.
In another exemplary embodiment, the third position and the first position of the peel bar are the same position.
In another aspect, the present invention embraces a method of peeling a printed label off a liner on a media roll in a printer having a thermal print head and a platen roller.
In an exemplary embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: lifting the thermal print head off the platen roller; rotating a peel bar over the platen roller from a discharge side of the platen roller to a feed side of the platen roller; feeding media over the peel bar and between the platen roller and a mid-chassis; rotating the peel bar back over the platen roller towards the discharge side of the platen roller; replacing the thermal print head over the media and the platen roller; printing a label on the media; advancing the media over and around the peel bar; and self-stripping the label off the liner when the media advances around the peel bar.
In another exemplary embodiment, the method further comprises the step of advancing the liner to a liner tear bar on the printer.
In another exemplary embodiment of the method, the step of rotating the peel bar back over the platen roller towards the discharge side of the platen roller pulls the media with the peel bar over the platen roller.
In another aspect, the present invention embraces a self-strip media module in a printer.
In an exemplary embodiment, the self-strip media module includes a peel bar. The peel bar has a length at least as great as the length of a platen roller. The length of the peel bar is in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the media. The peel bar is adapted to rotate from a first position on a discharge side of the platen roller to a second position on a feed side of the platen roller. The media is comprised of labels adhered to a liner. The media is fed over the peel bar when the peel bar is in the second position. The media is fed between the platen roller and a mid-chassis. The peel bar is configured to rotate to a third position towards the discharge side of the platen roller. The peel bar pulls the media over the platen roller and pulls the media over itself. A thermal print head is configured to be lowered onto the media over the platen roller and to print on the labels. The printer is configured to advance the media over the peel bar, the labels being stripped from the liner when the media advances around the peel bar.
In another exemplary embodiment, the peel bar is rotatably engaged at the ends of the platen roller.
In another exemplary embodiment, the printer is further configured to advance the liner around the peel bar, over the platen roller, and around the platen roller after the labels are stripped from the liner.
In another exemplary embodiment, the media is fed between the platen roller and the mid-chassis on the feed side of the platen roller.
In another exemplary embodiment, the printer includes a liner tear bar. The liner is fed between the platen roller and the mid-chassis on the feed side of the platen roller to the liner tear bar.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the thermal print head and the media have a coefficient of friction μ1 therein between. The media has a coefficient of friction μ2 when pulled over itself. The liner and the platen roller have a coefficient of friction μ3 therein between. The coefficient μ3 is greater than μ1 and greater than μ2.
In another exemplary embodiment, the thermal print head and the media have a coefficient of friction μ1 therein between. The media has a coefficient of friction μ2 when pulled over itself. The liner and the platen roller have a coefficient of friction μ3 therein between. The coefficient μ3 is greater than the sum of μ1 and μ2.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the first position and the third position are the same position.
In another exemplary embodiment, the peel bar has a longitudinally extending edge whereby the media strips from the liner as the liner advances around the edge of the peel bar.
The foregoing illustrative summary, as well as other exemplary objectives and/or advantages of the invention, and the manner in which the same are accomplished, are further explained within the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 schematically depicts an exemplary embodiment of the self-strip label module in the printer before setting up the self-strip module in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 schematically depicts in an exemplary embodiment of the self-strip label module the rotating the peel bar before feeding the media in the printer in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 3 schematically depicts an exemplary embodiment of the self-strip label module where the media is routed over the peel bar in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 4 schematically depicts in an exemplary embodiment of the self-strip label module setting the peel bar for label self-stripping.
FIG. 5 schematically depicts an exemplary embodiment of the self-strip label module showing the media path with the self-strip module in place in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 6 schematically depicts an exemplary embodiment of the self-strip label module with the label self-stripping from the liner in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 7 schematically depicts a side view of the media path around the self-strip module showing the friction components in the media path in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 graphically depicts an exemplary method of self-stripping a printed label off a liner on a media roll in accordance with one aspect of the present invention.
The present invention embraces a self-strip media module in a printer. Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a label printer (305) is shown in part, and generally includes a thermal print head (310), a platen roller (320), and a mid-chassis. The mid-chassis is blocked from view by other components in the present figure, but the mid-chassis (330) is depicted in FIG. 3 and FIG. 7.
In an exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the self-strip module (300) is comprised of a peel bar (340). The peel bar (340) has a length, or a long dimension, at least as great as the length, or the long dimension of the platen roller (320). The length dimension of the peel bar (340) is perpendicular to the direction of travel of the media in the printer (305). As shown, the peel bar (340) is rotatably engaged at the ends (321a and 321b) of the platen roller (320). The peel bar (340) is rotatable from a first position (342) on a discharge side (322) of the platen roller (320) to, see FIG. 2, a second position (344) on a feed side (324) of the platen roller (320). While the Figures show the peel bar (340) rotatably engaged at the ends (321a and 321b) of the platen roller (320), other arrangements for rotating the peel bar (320) from the first position (342) to the second position (344) are possible as would be known by those skilled in the art. For example, the pivot points for the peel bar (340) while necessarily being outside the long dimension of the platen roller (320) can be separate from the platen roller (320).
The thermal print head (310) is shown lifted off the platen roller (320) in order to rotate the peel bar (340) in the quick set up of the self-strip module.
Referring now to FIG. 3, which depicts the self-strip module (300) of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 with label media added. In the FIG. 3, parts of the printer (305) at the (321a) end of the platen roller (320) are not shown in order to clearly see the media path and the mid-chassis (330). The media (350) is comprised of a series of labels adhered to a liner. For simplicity and clarity the labels and liner are not distinguishable from each other in the present FIG. 3. The media (350) is fed over the peel bar (340) when the peel bar (340) is in the second position (344). The media (350) is fed between the platen roller (320) and the mid-chassis (330). The thermal print head (310) remains lifted off the platen roller (320).
Referring now to FIG. 4, continuing the setup of the self-strip module (300), the peel bar (340) is configured to rotate to a third position (346) towards the discharge side (not clearly visible in the present Figure) of the platen roller (320). When rotated to third position (346), the peel bar (340) pulls the media (350) over the platen roller (320) and over itself (350).
Referring now to FIG. 5, continuing the setup of the self-strip module (300), the thermal print head (310) is lowered onto the media (350) on the platen roller (320). The thermal print head (310) is configured to print on the labels, while the printer (305) is configured to advance the media (350).
Referring to FIG. 6, the labels (352) and the liner (354) are now shown as distinguishable portions of the media (350). As the media (350) is advanced by the printer (305) over the peel bar (340) in the third position (346), the labels (352) are stripped from the liner (354) as the media (350) advances around the peel bar (340). The printer (305) is configured to advance the remaining liner (354) around the peel bar (340), over the platen roller (320), and around the platen roller (320) as shown by the media path in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.
The peel bar (340) is shown in all the Figures as a flat bar with a longitudinally extending edge, whereby the media (350) is advanced around the longitudinally extending edge to self-strip the labels (352). However, in another exemplary embodiment, the peel bar may have more than 2 longitudinally extending edges. A multi-sided peel bar, for example 3 or more sides in cross-section, is appropriate based upon the sides have longitudinally extending edges whereby the label will strip from the liner as the media is advanced around the peel bar. As the number of sides of the peel bar increases, the effectiveness of the self-strip separation of the label from the liner decreases.
In the FIGS. 1-6, the first position (342) and the third position (346) of the peel bar (340) are shown as distinct from each other. In another exemplary embodiment, the first position and third position may be the same position. That is, when rotating the peel bar (340) towards the discharge side (322) of the platen roller (320), the peel bar (340) rotates the entire rotation to the first position (342). During this rotation, the peel bar (340) pulls the media (350) over the platen roller (320) and over itself (350).
Referring now to FIG. 7, the self-strip module (300) is shown in a side view in order to clearly depict the friction components on the media path. Connection points between components are omitted and contact points are expanded so that the media path and friction points are clearly visible. As shown in the previous Figures, after the peel bar (340) is set to the third position (346), the media (350) passes over itself and under the thermal print head (310). The media (350) passes around the peel bar (340) and around the platen roller (320) to the liner tear bar (not shown). The thermal print head (310) and the media (350) have a coefficient of friction μ1 therein between. The media (350) has a coefficient of friction μ2 when pulled over itself. The media (350) and the platen roller (320) have a coefficient of friction μ3 therein between. The coefficient of friction, μ3, between the media (350) and the platen roller (320) is greater than μ1 and greater than μ2. In an exemplary embodiment, the coefficient of friction, μ3, between the media (350) and the platen roller (320) is greater than the sum of μ1 and μ2.
Continuing in FIG. 7 is shown an exemplary embodiment where the printer (305) may be further equipped with a liner tear bar (360). The liner (354) is fed between the platen roller (320) and the mid-chassis (330) on the feed side (324) of the platen roller (320) to the liner tear bar (360).
The present invention satisfies the object of the invention because the media path, while new in that it brings the media to the self-strip module, requires the media to stay within the printer, whereas prior art devices and method give a path for the media to an external module.
The present invention also embraces a method of self-stripping or peeling a printed label off a liner on a media roll in a printer having a thermal print head and a platen roller. Referring now to FIG. 8, an exemplary embodiment of the method (500) is schematically depicted with steps comprising: (505) lifting the thermal print head off the platen roller; (510) rotating a peel bar over the platen roller from a discharge side of the platen roller to a feed side of the platen roller; (515) feeding media over the peel bar and between the platen roller and a mid-chassis; (520) rotating the peel bar back over the platen roller towards the discharge side of the platen roller; (530) replacing the thermal print head over the media and the platen roller; (535) printing a label on the media; (540) advancing the media over and around the peel bar; and (545) self-stripping the label off the liner when the media advances around the peel bar.
The step (520) rotating the peel bar back over the platen roller towards the discharge side of the platen roller, includes the step (525) of pulling the media with the peel bar over the platen roller.
The (545) self-stripping step is accomplished with a peel bar having an edge at the position where the media is advanced around the peel bar, whereby the label self-strips and does not advance around the peel bar, but the liner does advance around the peel bar.
The method (500) may further include the step of (550) advancing the liner to a liner tear bar on the printer. The liner can be torn at the liner tear bar.
The FIGS. 1-7 may be advantageously viewed in conjunction with the method (500) of the present embodiment.
To supplement the present disclosure, this application incorporates entirely by reference the following commonly assigned patents, patent application publications, and patent applications:
In the specification and/or figures, typical embodiments of the invention have been disclosed. The present invention is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. The use of the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The figures are schematic representations and so are not necessarily drawn to scale. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.
1. A self-strip media module in a printer, wherein the self-strip media module comprises:
a peel bar, the peel bar having a length at least as great as the length of a platen roller, the peel bar being rotatably engaged at the ends of the platen roller, the peel bar being rotatable from a first position on a discharge side of the platen roller to a second position on a feed side of the platen roller;
media comprised of a series of labels adhered to a liner;
the media being fed over the peel bar when the peel bar is in the second position, the media being fed between the platen roller and a mid-chassis;
the peel bar being configured to rotate to a third position towards the discharge side of the platen roller, the peel bar pulling the media over the platen roller and over itself;
a thermal print head being configured to be lowered onto the media over the platen roller and to print on the labels;
the printer being configured to advance the media over the peel bar, the labels being stripped from the liner when the media advances around the peel bar; and
the printer being further configured to advance the liner around the peel bar, over the platen roller, and around the platen roller after the label is printed.
2. The self-strip media module of claim 1, wherein the media is fed between the platen roller and the mid-chassis on the feed side of the platen roller.
3. The self-strip media module of claim 1, wherein the printer includes a liner tear bar, and wherein the liner is further fed between the platen roller and the mid-chassis on the feed side of the platen roller to the liner tear bar.
4. The self-strip media module of claim 1, wherein the peel bar has N sides in cross-section, where N is a number greater than or equal to 3.
5. The self-strip media module of claim 1, wherein the thermal print head and the media have a coefficient of friction μ1 therein between; the media has a coefficient of friction μ2 when pulled over itself; the media and the platen roller have a coefficient of friction μ3 therein between; and μ3 being greater than μ1 and being greater than μ2.
6. The self-strip media module of claim 1, wherein the thermal print head and the media have a coefficient of friction μ1 therein between; the media has a coefficient of friction μ2 when pulled over itself; the media and the platen roller have a coefficient of friction μ3 therein between; and μ3 being greater than the sum of μ1 and μ2.
7. The self-strip media module of claim 1, wherein the peel bar has a longitudinally extending edge whereby the label strips from the liner as the media advances around the edge of the peel bar.
8. The self-strip media module of claim 1, wherein the third position and the first position are the same position.
9. A method of peeling a printed label off a liner on a media roll in a printer having a thermal print head and a platen roller, comprising:
lifting the thermal print head off the platen roller;
rotating a peel bar over the platen roller from a discharge side of the platen roller to a feed side of the platen roller;
feeding media over the peel bar and between the platen roller and a mid-chassis;
rotating the peel bar back over the platen roller towards the discharge side of the platen roller;
replacing the thermal print head over the media and the platen roller;
printing a label on the media;
advancing the media over and around the peel bar; and
self-stripping the label off the liner when the media advances around the peel bar.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises the step of advancing the liner to a liner tear bar on the printer.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of rotating the peel bar back over the platen roller towards the discharge side of the platen roller pulls the media with the peel bar over the platen roller.
12. A self-strip media module in a printer, the self-strip media module comprises:
a peel bar, the peel bar having a length at least as great as the length of a platen roller, the peel bar being adapted to rotate from a first position on a discharge side of the platen roller to a second position on a feed side of the platen roller;
media comprising labels adhered to a liner;
the media being fed over the peel bar when the peel bar is in the second position, the media being fed between the platen roller and a mid-chassis;
the peel bar being configured to rotate to a third position towards the discharge side of the platen roller, the peel bar pulling the media over the platen roller and pulling the media over itself;
a thermal print head being configured to be lowered onto the media over the platen roller and to print on the labels; and
the printer being configured to advance the media over the peel bar, the labels being stripped from the liner when the media advances around the peel bar.
13. The self-strip media module of claim 12, wherein the peel bar is rotatably engaged at the ends of the platen roller.
14. The self-strip media module of claim 12, wherein the printer is further configured to advance the liner around the peel bar, over the platen roller, and around the platen roller after the labels are stripped from the liner.
15. The self-strip media module of claim 12, wherein the media is fed between the platen roller and the mid-chassis on the feed side of the platen roller.
16. The self-strip media module of claim 12, wherein the printer includes a liner tear bar, and wherein the liner is fed between the platen roller and the mid-chassis on the feed side of the platen roller to the liner tear bar.
17. The self-strip media module of claim 12, wherein the thermal print head and the media have a coefficient of friction μ1 therein between; the media has a coefficient of friction μ2 when pulled over itself; the liner and the platen roller have a coefficient of friction μ3 therein between; and μ3 being greater than μ1 and being greater than μ2.
18. The self-strip media module of claim 12, wherein the thermal print head and the media have a coefficient of friction μ1 therein between; the media has a coefficient of friction μ2 when pulled over itself; the liner and the platen roller have a coefficient of friction μ3 therein between; and μ3 being greater than the sum of μ1 and μ2.
19. The self-strip label module of claim 12, wherein the first position and the third position are the same position.
20. The self-strip label module of claim 12, wherein the peel bar has a longitudinally extending edge whereby the media strips from the liner as the liner advances around the edge of the peel bar.