US3902412A

US3902412A - Apparatus for printing and severing labels

Info

Publication number: US3902412A
Application number: US329771A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert M Pabodie
Original assignee: Monarch Marking Systems Inc
Current assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
Priority date: 1972-01-06
Filing date: 1973-02-05
Publication date: 1975-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-02

Abstract

There is disclosed a printing, feeding and severing method and apparatus for carrying out the method. The apparatus includes a print head assembly and a platen assembly movable relatively toward and away from each other into and out of printing cooperation, mechanism for inking the print head assembly, mechanism for feeding a web of record members to between the print head assembly and the platen assembly, the web being in roll form and there being means to assist the gradual unwinding of the roll with gradual paying out of web material from the roll to the feeding machanism, an idler contacting the web and disposed at a slight angle to the direction of feed of the web to cause the web to follow a feed edge, record severing means disposed downstream of the print head assembly and the platen assembly, and a modular support assembly of a print head of the print head assembly. Purging method and apparatus are used to purge paper dust, created during the severing of a record from the web, away from the printing zone.

Description

United States Patent [191 Pabodie 1 Sept.2, 1975 APPARATUS FOR PRINTING AND SEVERING LABELS Robert M. Pabodie, Dayton, Ohio [73] Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.,

Dayton, Ohio 22 Filed: Feb. 5, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 329,771

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 215,820, Jan. 6,

1972, Pat. No. 3,767,095.

[75] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. l0l/93.07; 101/69; l0l/93.41;

101/224; 101/288 [51] Int. Cl. B4lf l/14; 1341f 13/54 [58] Field of Search 101/69, 224, 227, 226,

lOl/78, 80, 291, 292, 290, 287, 288, 293, 297, 41, 42, l8, l9, 10, ll, 9, 306, 316, 310, 94, 95, 322, 326, 307, 303, 309, 311, 359, 68, 93.07, 93.41, 226, 227; 83/149, 167,

3,052,180 9/1962 Ackerman et a1. 101/9 3,122,995 3/1964 Adler et a1 101/256 X 3,173,359 3/1965 Turner 101/297 X 3,180,254 4/1965 Hamisch, Sr.. 101/69 3,244,096 4/1966 Riley 101/297 3,310,145 3/1967 Pedersen.... 198/67 3,366,212 1/1968 Mc1nnis..... 197/67 3,526,189 9/1970 Allen lOl/288 3,540,375 11/1970 Alton 101/292 3,662,681 5/1972 Smith 101/68 3,750,491 8/1973 Hermann 74/625 Primary Examiner-Edgar S. Burr Assistant Examiner-Paul J. Hirsch Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Joseph J. Grass [57] ABSTRACT There is disclosed a printing, feeding and severing method and apparatus for carrying out the method. The apparatus includes a print head assembly and a platen assembly movable relatively toward and away from each other into and out of printing cooperation, mechanism for inking the print head assembly, mechanism for feeding a web of record members to between the print head assembly and the platen assembly, the web being in roll form and there being means to assist the gradual unwinding of the roll with gradual paying out of web material from the roll to the feeding machanism, an idler contacting the web and disposed at a U ight angle to the direction of feed of the web to 1:956:30) 4/1934 Putnam ct alm 1O1/291 cause the web to follow a feed edge, record severing 2,072,532 3/1937 Roedels 101 /69 X means disposed downstream Of the Print head assem- 2,080,056 5/1937 Miller 101/288 bly and the platen assembly, and a modular support 2,104,647 1/1938 Henry, Jr. 10l/291 assembly of a print head of the print head assembly. 2,427,602 9/ 1947 H s 101/63 Purging method and apparatus are used to purge 2,515,354 7/1950 101/291 paper dust, created during the severing of a record Klngsley from the y from the p g one 2,691,342 10/1954 Johnston et a1. 101/66 2,696,784 12/1954 Geiler 101 /292 28 Claims, 40 Drawing Figures dds, 2 i r l l llll zim SHEET PATENTED SEP 21975 PATENTEU 2 i975 SHEET In T SHEET n '9 Q u.

'TEHTEUSEP' 21975 PATENTEDSEP 2191s SHEET APPARATUS FOR PRINTING AND SEVERING LABELS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 215,820, filed Jan. 6, 1972, now US. Pat. No. 3,767,095.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises improved printing apparatus in which a print head and a platen are mounted for relative movement toward and away from each other and a stop arrangement is used to limit the amount of travel of the print head and the platen toward each other. A preferred arrangement is to provide a resilient drive connection which yields when a stop is abutted. Specifically, either the print head or the platen assembly is movably mounted and the movable one is connected to an eccentric by a connecting rod having a pair of relatively movable sections and a spring yieldably urging the sections apart. Impression control is thus effected.

The invention also comprises structure providing a fixedly mounted print head, a movable platen assembly with a platen cooperable with the print head, feeding and severing means mounted by the movable platen assembly, and means for driving the platen assembly, the feeding means and the severing means.

The invention also comprises printing means for printing on a web with improved means downstream of the printing means for selectively automatically or manually severing printed records from the web.

The invention also comprises method and apparatus for purging paper dust, created during the severing of a record from the web, away from printing means in a printing zone. A stream of air, preferably under positive pressure, is directed at and through the printing zone and preferably also at and through the severing zone. A shield adjacent the severing zone assists in keeping paper dust out of contact with the printing members of the print head assembly.

PRIOR ART The following US. patents are made of record: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,180,254; 3,228,601; and 3,662,681.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing one side of printing apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view generally along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial front elevational view generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a partly diagrammatic side elevational view showing the platen assembly in printing cooperation with the print head assembly, showing the inking mechanism in a position in which the ink roll is in engagement with the ink transfer roll, and showing the severing mechanism as having severed a record member from the web;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to FIG. 8, but showing the ink roller as having inked the printing members during its forward stroke and showing exaggeratedly the platen in its downward position;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view showing part of the linkage of the inking mechanism in both solid and phantom line positions;

FIG. 11 is a sectional elevational view showing the manner in which the ink roll is mounted for travel relative to the print head assembly;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view illustrating the severing mechanism in both solid and full line positions;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the inking mechanism in section;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken generally along line 14-14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken generally along line 15-15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a sectional elevational view of apparatus by which ink is delivered to the fountain from the sump and excess ink is returned to the sump;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale showing a wiper blade and ink return ducts and a header;

FIG. 18 is an elevational view showing the feeding mechanism by which the record members are fed;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is an elevational view through the print head assembly showing the manner in which the printing bands are mounted;

FIG. 21 is an elevational view taken generally along line 21-21 of FIG. 20, but omitting the printing bands;

FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of the modular printing band support assembly shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a sectional view taken along line 23-23 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 is a sectional view taken along line 24-24 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 25 is an elevational sectional view taken along line 25-25 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 26 is a view taken generally along line 26-26 of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which the functions of the printing apparatus are timed;

FIG. 28 is a sectional view taken generally along line 28-28 of FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a schematic circuit diagram showing a manner in which the record severing function can be accomplished;

FIG. 30 is a schematic circuit diagram for the record feed mechanism;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of an alternate form of drive and mounting mechanism for the ink roll;

FIG. 32 is a side elevational view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 31;

FIG. 33 is a sectional view taken along line 33-33 of FIG. 32;

FIG. 34 is a sectional view taken along line 34-34 of FIG. 33;

FIG. 35 is a sectional view taken along line 35-35 of FIG. 33;

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of the printing apparatus, but showing additionally a purging system by which paper dust is purged away from the printing zone;

FIG. 37 is a side elevational, partly sectional, view of the printing apparatus with the purging system shown in FIG. 36;

FIG. 38is a fragmentary front elevational view taken along line 38-38 of FIG. 37;

FIG. 39 is a partly sectional view taken along line 39-39 of FIG. 38; and

FIG. 40 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along line 40-40 of FIG. 38.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a printing apparatus generally indicated at including a frame generally indicated at 31. A print head assembly 32 is fixedly mounted to the frame 31 and a platen assembly generally indicated at 33 is pivotally mounted to the frame 31 by a pivot pin 34. An inking mechanism or inker generally indicated at 35 is provided for inking the print head assembly 32. A roll 36 of record members 37 arranged in web form is mounted by a rotatable reel 38 mounted by the frame 31. The web of record members 37 passes under and partly around a rotary feed member 98, from there it passes into contact with, over and partly around the roll 36 of record members 37 and from there onto the upper surface 39 of the platen assembly 33 beneath a hold-down plate 40 and an aligning roll 41. From there the web of record members 37 passes between a feed wheel 42 and a roll 43. From there the web of record members 37 is advanced to a rigid platen 44 of the platen assembly 33. The feed wheel 42 operates near the end of each machine cycle to advance the printing record member or members 37 to a position in which the trailing edge of the advanced record member or members 37 are at a fixed knife 45 of a severing mechanism generally indicated at 46. The severing mechanism 46 which is downstream of the feed wheel 42 also includes a movable knife 47. The movable knive 47 is pivotally mounted about a pivot 48 and is cooperable with the fixed knife 45 to sever the previously printed record member or members 37 from the remainder of the web.

An electric motor 49 is mounted to the frame 31. The electric motor 49 drives a speed reducer 50 which in turn is connected to the input of a clutch indicated diagrammatically at 51. The clutch 51 is shown in greater detail at 153 in US. Pat. No. 3,180,254. The output of the clutch 51 is connected to a drive shaft 52 journaled in a bearing 53. An eccentric generally indicated at 54 in the form of a crank 55 has an eccentrically mounted crank pin 56. The pin 56 is received by a ball 57 received in a socket 57'. The socket 57 forms part of a connecting rod generally indicated at 58.

With reference to FIG. 3, the connecting rod socket or section 57 is shown to threadably receive a rod 59. A look nut 60 threadably received by the rod or rod section 59 maintains the adjusted position of the rod 59 relative to the socket 57'. The rod 59 also threadably receives a pair of nuts 61. A compression spring 62 is received about the rod 59 between the nuts 61 and a socket or socket section 63. The nuts 61 are adjusted so that the spring 62 is always under some compression irrespective of the position of the crank pin 56. The rod 59 has an enlarged section 64 received in an elongated recess 65 in the socket 63, thereby permitting relative movement between the rod 59 and the socket 63. The socket 63 movably mounts a ball 66 in a socket hole 67. The ball 66 has a hole 68 in which a shaft 59 is received. The shaft 69 is rigidly connected to the platen assembly 33. Before the clutch 51 is engaged, shaft 56 is in the phantom line position indicated at 56 in FIG. 3. In this position, the platen 44 of the platen assembly 33 is spaced from printing members 70 of the print head assembly 32. As the shaft 52 rotates clockwise (FIG. 3), the platen assembly 33 continues to move away from the print head assembly 32 until the crank pin 56 rotates clockwise to its lowest position (FIG. 3). As the shaft 52 continues to rotate clockwise, the platen assembly 33 starts moving toward the print head assembly 32. Before the crank 56 reaches the highest position shown by solid lines in FIG. 3, stop screws 71 engage a stop provided by a stop plate 72 rigidly mounted to the frame 31 by a bracket 73. The bracket 73 is considered to be part of the frame 31. While the stop screws 71 are in contact with the stop plate 72 the record member is in contact with the printing members 70. The stop screws 71 are adjustable to effect adjustment of impression control.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, the electric motor 49 has a gear 74 secured to its output shaft 75. The gear 74 drives a gear 76 secured to a pulley 78. The gear 76 and the pulley 78 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 77. The pulley 78 drives a pulley 79 via belt 80. The pulley 79 is secured to a shaft 81. A bracket 82 secured to the frame 31 mounts the shaft 77 and a stationary bearing 83. The gear 76 and the pulley 78 are secured to a hub member 77'. The shaft 81 is rotatably mounted by the bearing 83 and drives

pulleys

84 and 85 and 99. The pulley 84 drives a pulley 86 via belt 87. The pulley 86 and a pulley 88 are keyed together so that they rotate as a unit about stationary shaft 89. The shaft 89 is secured to the frame 31 by a bracket 90. The pulley 88 drives a pulley 91 (FIG. 15) via belt 92. The pulley 91 drives the mechanism 35.

The pulley 85 (FIG. 5) drives a pulley 94 via belt 95. The pulley 94 is secured to a shaft 96 rotatably mounted by a bearing 97. A rotary frictional feed member 98 is secured to the shaft 96.

A pulley 99 secured to the shaft 81 drives a pulley 100 via belt 101. The pulley 100 and another pulley 102 are keyed together so that they rotate as a unit about a stationary shaft 103. The pulley 102 drives a pulley 104 (FIGS. 18 and 19) via belt 105. As best shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the pulley 104 drives the record feeding mechanism generally indicated at 107.

With reference to FIG. 18, the platen assembly 33 is shown to be comprised of a platen frame 108 in which the shaft 103 is adjustably mounted to tension the belt 105. The tension on the belt 101 is maintained by a pair of springs 109 (FIGS. 2 and 18). A pair of plates 110 and 111 are shown to be mounted in spaced parallel fixed relationship with respect to each other by

spacer rods

112, 113 and 114. The ends of the

rods

112, 113, and 114 are suitably secured to the plates 110 and 111 to provide a unitary feed assembly frame 115. The plates 110 and 111 of the feed assembly frame 115 are pivotally mounted by

studs

116 and 117 carried by a bracket 33 secured to the platen frame 108. The

studs

116 and 117 pivotally mount the solenoid housing 157. The entire feed assembly frame 1 15 is accordingly pivoted by the studs 1 16 and 117 with respect to the platen frame 108. The plate 110 is shown to be in abutment with a stop screw 1 18 threadably mounted by the platen frame 108. The stop screw 118 adjustably limits the position to which the feed assembly frame 115 can be pivoted by a tension spring 119, thereby adjusting the amount of pressure which the feed wheel 42 exerts on the underside of the record web. The tension spring 119 is connected at one end to the rod 114 and at its other end to the platen frame 108.

With reference to FIG. 19, there is shown a wrappedspring clutch generally indicated at 120. The clutch 120 includes a tubular sleeve 121 having a flat 122. The pulley 104 matingly receives the sleeve 121 at the flat 122 so that the pulley 104 and the sleeve 121 rotate as a unit. An annular tubular drive member 123 is pressfitted onto the sleeve 121 so that the sleeve 121 and the drive member 123 rotate as a unit. A control sleeve 124 is received about the drive member 123. The sleeve 124 can be constructed of suitable plastic material. The sleeve 124 has an annular external groove 125 which receives a resilient O-ring 126, composed of a material having a relatively high co-efficient of friction such as rubber. As the O-ring 126 is snugly received in the groove 125 in a slightly stretched condition, the O-ring 126 does not rotate relative to the sleeve 124. An output driven member generally indicated at 127 has an enlarged annular section 128, the diameter of which is illustrated as being equal to the diameter of the drive member 123. The feed wheel 42 is shown to be formed integrally with the enlarged annular section 128. A spring 130 is shown to be received about a portion of the outer surface of the drive member 123 and about the outer surface of the annular section 128. One end of the spring 130 is turned out to provide a tang 131 received in an open-ended slot 132 in the sleeve 124. The sleeve 124 is shown to have an enlarged internal diameter as indicated at 133 to provide clearance between the spring 130 and the sleeve 124. The output driven member 127 has a reduced diameter section 134 which extends through the sleeve 121, a spacing and retaining sleeve 135, a bushing 136,

washers

137 and 138, an O- ring 139, and ino the knob 140. The output driven member 127 also has a stub end 141 received by a bushing 142. The bushing 142 is non-rotatably mounted by the plate 1 l 1. A set screw 143 threadably mounted by the sleeve 134 and received in a groove 144 of the section 134 prevents the driven member 127 from shifting in a direction perpendicular to the plates 110 and l 1 1, but allows the member 127 to be rotated. The bushing 136 is non-rotatably mounted by the plate 110. In the solid line position shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, a control member 145 is shown to have a pair of blunt, spaced-apart teeth 146; the control member 145 is shown in Contact with the O-ring 126, thereby holding the sleeve 124 and the spring 130 uncoiled or expanded so that it has a larger internal diameter than when the clutch 120 is engaged. As the pulley 91 rotates continuously, the sleeve 121 and the drive member 123 rotate continuously relative to the sleeve 124 and the spring 130. While the control member 145 is in contact with the O-ring 126, the spring 130 is expanded thereby preventing the drive member 123 from driving the annular section 128 of the output member 127. When the control member 145 is moved to the phantom-line position (FIG. 18) out of contact with the O-ring 126, the spring 130 coils up, that is, its internal diameter is reduced, thereby gripping the drive member 123. The clutch 120 is now engaged as the spring 130 drivingly connects the input member 123 and the output member 127. When the clutch 120 is engaged,

the feed wheel 42 rotates. The web of record members 37 is fed between the feed wheel 42 and a roll 43 which is rotatably mounted in a block 148 by a bearing 150. The block 148 is suitably mounted to the platen frame 108. The outer surface of the feed wheel 42 is provided with straight knurls 42 which engage the underside of the web of record members 37. The feed wheel 42 is considerably narrower than the width of the web being fed. However, the roll 43 is long enough to engage the upper surface of the web across a considerable portion of its width. Thus, the roll 4-3 serves to hold the web down against the upper surface of the platen frame 108 immediately upstream of the platen 44. When the control member 145 is moved to the phantom line position (FIG. 10) out of contact with the O-ring 126, the rotation of the O-ring 126, the sleeve 124, and the spring 130 is arrested, thereby causing the spring 130 to uncoil or expand. Uncoiling of the spring 130 effects disengagement of the clutch by causing the spring to move outwardly away from the outer surface of the drive member 123. Accordingly, the feed wheel 42 is no longer driven and the movement of the web of record members 37 stops. It is noted that the control member contacts the O-ring 126 above the center of the control sleeve 124 at an obtuse angle A relative to the direction of travel of the O-ring at the point of contact. Moreover, considering a first line between the point of contact and the pivot 113, a second line perpendicular to the first line and intersecting the first line between the point of contact and the pivot 113 passes through the center line of the sleeve 124. This results in effectivedisengagement at the clutch 120 when the member 145 contacts the O-ring 126.

The end section 149 of the driven member 127 has a flat 150. The knob 140 is received by the end section 149 and has a flat 151 which cooperates with the flat 150 of the end section 149 to prevent rotation of the knob 140 relative to the end section 149. A friction clutch 152 includes the washer 138 which is keyed to the section 149, the O-ring 139, the washer 137 and the end surface of the bushing 136. A screw 152 threadably received by the end section 149, is adjustable to adjust the amount of frictional drag of the clutch 152. It is apparent that the feed wheel 42 can be driven either through torque applied by the pulley 104 when the clutch 120 is engaged, or manually by rotation of the knob 140 but the clutch 152 frictionally holds the feed wheel 42 in the position into which it has been advanced, either as a result of the engagement of the Y clutch 120 or as the result of manally rotating the knob A solenoid 154 (FIG. 18) mounted by the platen frame 108 has an armature 155. A compression spring 156 is received about the armature between the end of the solenoid housing 157 and a flange 158 on the armature 155. The armature 155 is connected to the control member 145 by a pin 159. The spring 156 normally holds the control member 145 in the solid line position (FIG. 18). Energization of the solenoid 154 causes the armature 155 to shift, thereby pivoting control member 145 clockwise into the phantom line position (FIG. 18) out of contact with O-ring 126. Energization and deenergization of the solenoid 154 is controlled by a circuit shown in FllG. 30.

The feed wheel 42 advances the web once during each machine cycle so that a record member 37 is presented to the printing position or zone between the platen 44 and the printing members 70. When the record member 37 arrives at the printing zone, the clutch 120 is disengaged and the feed wheel 42 stops rotating. However, as the output shaft 75 of the electric motor 49 rotates continuously, the rotary feed member 98 is continuously driven. The rotary feed member 98 is shown in FIGS. and 6 to have a hub 160 secured to the driven shaft 96. The hub 160 is shown to be provided with four dove-tail slots 161 for receiving respective drive members 162. The drive members 162 are in the form of outwardly extending vanes or blades. The drive members 162 are composed of a flexible, resilient material preferably having a high co-efficient of friction, such as rubber. When the drive members 162 are in driving engagement with a section of the web which has been paid out of the roll 36, the drive members 162 flex slightly as they engage the web. As the rotary feed member 98 continues to rotate, additional web material is paid out of the roll 36 until gradually slackness develops. As the slackness increases, the contact between the rotary feed member 98 and the web decreases and it can decrease to such an extent that the paid out web section looses contact with the feed member 98 as indicated by phantom lines. As rotation of the rotary feed member 98 continues, the feed wheel 42 and the roll 43, together with the feed member 98 provides a simple arrangement for feeding the web material from the roll 36 has a relatively large amount of inertia, and as the feeding by the feed wheel 42 is intermittent, the construction, arrangement and location of the feed member 98 prevents an undue amount of web material from being paid out of the roll 36. This is accomplished without applying any braking force either to the reel 38, to the roll 36, or to the paid out web material, although the art is replete with such devices. As best shown in FIG. 5, it is noted that the reel 38 and the rotary feed member 98 are disposed at the same slight angle with respect to the horizontal. Assuming the apparatus is mounted on a generally horizontal surface, the roll 36 will not come off the reel 38 and yet the rotary feed member 98 can make full contact with the underside of the web. The peripheral speed of the drive members 162 is greater than the peripheral speed of the feed wheel 42.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 7, there is provided an aligning mechanism generally indicated at 163. The aligning mechanism 163 includes an arm 164 pivotally mounted by the pivot pin 34. A tension spring 165 is connected at one end to the arm 164 and at its other end to a plate 108' secured to the platen frame 108. A shaft 166 secured to the arm 164 is disposed at a slight angle with respect to the direction of travel of the record members 37 and to a plate 108 secured to the platen frame 108. An aligning roll 41 is comprised of a bushing 167 rotatably mounted by the shaft 166 and a one-piece molded annular frictional member 168 having a plurality of external annular flanges 169. The spring 165 urges the roll 41 toward platen surface 39. As the web advances, the web rotates the roll 41 which causes the web to move into alignment with an upstanding guide edge provided by the plate 108".

The platen 44 is shown in FIG. 7 to be adjustably mounted to the platen frame 108 by screws 170. The screws 170 pass through elongated slots 171 in the platen frame 108 and are rotatably received by respective nuts 172. In this manner, the platen 44 and the knife 45 formed at the terminal end of the platen 44 can be adjusted relative to the movable knife 47.

A bracket 173 is suitably secured to the platen frame 108. The bracket 173 threadably receives the adjusting screws 71. Lock nuts 71' lock the respective screws 71 in their adjusted positions. The bracket 173 mounts pivot 48. The movable knife 47 has a pair of flanges or

arms

176 and 177 which are pivotally mounted by the pivot 48. A link or settable control member 178 is connected to the arm 176 by a pivot pin 179, and a link or settable control member 180 is connected to the arm 177 by a pivot pin 181. The

links

178 and 180 are identical and have respective elongated slots or

cutouts

182 and 183 and respective stop shoulders 184 and 185. A solenoid 186 is secured to the bracket 73. Armature 187 (FIG. 7) is shown to be received in a compression spring 188. The spring 188 is compressed between the end of the solenoid 186 and a washer 189 which bears against a pin 190'. A generally U-shaped yoke 190 secured to the end of the armature 187 by a screw 191 has a pair of forwardly extending

arms

192 and 193. The arm 192 is pivotally connected to the link 78 by a pivot pin 194, and the arm 193 is pivotally connected to the link 180 by a pivot pin 195.

Arms

192 and 193 have respective stop shoulders 192 and 193'.

The severing mechanism 46 is only effective when the solenoid 186 has been energized. The solenoid 186 is energized during the time in the machine cycle when the shoulders 184 and are below a stop face 196 provided by a plate 197 secured to the bracket 73. Energization of the solenoid 186 drives or sets the

links

178 and 180 against the end 198 of the plate 197. As the platen assembly 33 moves upwardly, the

shoulders

184 and 185 of the

respective links

178 and 180 engage the stop face 196 (FIG. 8) to pivot the movable knife 47 counterclockwise into severing cooperation with the knife 45, thereby severing a record member 37 from the web. During the remainder of the machine cycle, the platen assembly 33 moves away from the print head 32. Upon deenergization of the solenoid 186, the

springs

199 and 200 respectively connecting the link 178 and the bracket 173, and the link 180 and the bracket 173 cause the movable knife 47 to pivot to its clockwise position shown in FIG. 9.

The spring 188 normally holds the yoke and the pins 194 and in the position shown for example in FIG. 7. Assuming that the solenoid 186 is not energized, the

shoulders

184 and 185 will not engage the stop face 196 as the platen assembly 33 moves upwardly. Accordingly, the movable knife 47 will remain in its initial position relative to the knife 45 (FIGS. 1 and 7).

The movable knife 47 has a manually engageable upstanding tab or handle 47' by which the movable knife 47 can be moved into record severing relationship with respect to the knife 45. As the movable knife 47 pivots, the

slots

182 and 183 allow the

links

178 and 180 to be moved downwardly as viewed in the drawings. The

springs

199 and 200 thereafter return the movable knife 47 to its initial position shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. Flange 177 has a projection 177' which is urged into control with a stop 177" by

springs

199 and 200 to define the initial position.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 7, the bracket 173 is shown to have an extension 201. A resilient deflector

Claims

1. Printing apparatus, comprising: a stationary frame, a print head and cooperable platen means, means for driving the movable one of the print head and the platen means during each printing cycle to print data on a record member, the stationary frame and the movable one of the print head and platen means having cooperable stop means for stopping the movement of the movable one of the print head and platen means at a predetermined stop position, means for regulating the stop means selectively to vary the stop position and hence to effect printing impression control, means for advancing a web of record members to a printing Position between the print head and the platen means, and means for severing a record member from the web including relatively movable cooperable knives mounted on the movable one of the print head and platen means.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including electromagnetic means for selectively operating the severing means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including link means movable with the movable one of the print head and platen means for operating the severing means, and selectively operable means mounted to the frame for arresting the movement of the link means during movement of the movable one of the print head and the platen means to cause the knives to cooperate and sever a record member from the web.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein one of the knives is formed integrally with the platen.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the print head has printing members with bar-shaped printing elements.

6. Printing apparatus, comprising: a stationary frame, a print head and cooperable platen means, one of the print head and the platen means being stationarily mounted to the stationary frame and the other of the print head and the platen means being movably mounted to the stationary frame, means for driving the movable one of the print head and the platen means during each printing cycle to print data on a record member, the stationary frame and the movable one of the print head and platen means having cooperable stop means for stopping movement of the movable one of the print head and platen means at a predetermined stop position, the driving means including a resilient drive connection for yielding when the movable one of the print head and the platen means stops at the stop position, the impression on the record member being unaffected by the action of the resilient drive connection, and means for regulating the stop means selective to vary the stop position and hence to effect printing impression control.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the platen means is movably mounted to the stationary frame and the print head is stationarily mounted to the stationary frame.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, the driving means including an electric motor, eccentric means driven by the electric motor, and a connecting rod drivingly connecting the eccentric and the movable one of the print head and the platen means, the resilient drive connection comprising means for enabling the connecting rod to distend when the movable one of the print head and the platen means stops at the stop position.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, the driving means including a rod, the resilient drive connection comprising means for enabling the rod to distend when the movable one of the print head and the platen means stops at the stop position.

10. Printing apparatus, comprising: a stationary frame, a print head and cooperable platen means, one of the print head and the platen means being stationarily mounted to the stationary frame and the other of the print head and the platen means being movably mounted to the stationary frame, means for driving the movable one of the print head and the platen means during each printing cycle to print data on a record member, the driving means including an eccentric and means providing a resilient drive connection between the eccentric and the movable one of the print head and the platen means, the frame and the movable one of the print head and the platen means having cooperable stop means for stopping the relative movement of the print head and the platen means at a predetermined stop position, the impression on the record member being unaffected by the action of the resilient drive connection, and means for regulating the stop means selectively to vary the stop position and hence to effecting printing impression control.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the platen means is movably mounted to the stationary frame and the print head is stationarily mounted to the stationary frame.

12. Printing apparatus, comprising: a stationary frame, a print head and cooperable platen means, means for feeding a web of record members to a printing position between the print head and the platen means, means for driving the print head and the platen means relatively toward and away from each other during each printing cycle to print data on a record member in the web, means disposed downstream of the printing position for severing a record member from the web, the severing means including a first severing member and a cooperable second severing member, the severing members being mounted on and with the movable one of the print head and the platen means, and a settable control member for driving the first severing member, the frame having a stop stationarily mounted to the frame and engageable by the control member for stopping the control member when the control member has been set to cause the first severing member to move into severing cooperation with the second severing member to sever a record member from the web.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, including a solenoid for setting the control member, a pin and slot connection between the solenoid and the control member enabling the first severing member to be operated either in response to setting of the control member by the solenoid or manually.

14. Printing apparatus comprising: a stationary frame, means mounted by the frame for printing data on a web of record members, means disposed downstream of the printing means for severing printed records from the web, the severing means including a movable severing member, a settable member for moving the movable severing member, means for selectively moving the settable member to a set position, a stop stationarily mounted by the frame, a stop shoulder on the settable member and cooperable with the stationary stop when the settable member is in the set position for operating the movable severing member as the movable one of the print head and the platen means moves, means for automatically setting the settable member to its set position, the movable severing member having a portion by which the severing member can be manually moved into severing relationship with the web, and means for enabling the manual operation of the severing means even though the settable member is not in the set position.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the automatic setting means includes a solenoid operatively coupled to the settable member.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, the enabling means including a cutout in one of the settable member and the automatic setting means.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, the settable member having a cutout, the automatic setting means having a pin received in the cutout, the cutout enabling the movable servering member to be manually moved which in turn moves the settable member relative to the pin, the pin being operable to set the settable member upon operation of the automatic setting means.

18. Printing apparatus, comprising: a frame, means mounted by the frame for printing data on a web of record members, means disposed downstream on the printing means and mounted by a movable part of the printing means for serving printed records from the web, the serving means including a movable severing member, a settable control member for driving the movable severing member, means for selectively moving the settable member to a set position, a stop stationarily mounted by the frame, a stop shoulder on the settable member and cooperable with the frame stop when the settable member is in the set position and as the movable part of the printing means moves for operating the movable severing member, means for automatically setting the settable member to its set position, the movable severing member having a portion by which the severing member can be manually moved into severing relationship with the web, and means for enabling the manual operation of the severing means even though the settable member is not in the set position.

19. Printing apparatus, comprising: a stationary frame, means mounted by the frame for printing data on a web of record members, means disposed downstream of the printing means for severing printed records from the web, the severing means including cooperable first and secoond severing members mounted for relative movement on a movable part of the printing means, the actuating means including a settable member movable with the movable part of the printing means for driving the first severing member, a stop shoulder on the settable member, the frame having a stationary stop, the settable member having an elongated cutout, a pin received in the cutout and movable to move the settable member to a set position in which the stop shoulder of the settable member is in the path of the stop as the settable member moves to thereby effect severing of a record member, and automatic means including electromagnetic means for selectively moving the pin.

20. Apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein the electromatnetic means includes a solenoid.

21. Apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein there are a pair of such settable members, a pair of such pins cooperable with the cutouts in the respective settable members, and a pair of such stationary stops.

22. Printing apparatus, comprising: a stationary frame, a print head and cooperable platen means, one of the print head and the platen means being stationary mounted to the stationary frame and the other of the print head and the platen means being movably mounted to the stationary frame, means for driving the movable one of the print head and the platen means during each printing cycle to print data on a record member, the driving means including an electric motor, an eccentric driven by the motor and a connecting rod connecting the eccentric and the movable one of the print head and the platen means, the connecting rod comprising relatively movable first and second sections, a spring yieldingly urging the sections apart, the movable one of the print head and the platen means and the stationary frame having cooperable stop means for stopping the movement of the movable one of the print head and the platen means at a predetermined stop position, the sections moving relatively toward each other against the action of the spring when the movable one of the print head and the platen means stops at the stop position, the impression on the record member being unaffected by the action of the spring, and means for regulating the stop means selectively to vary the stop position and hence to effect printing impression control.

23. Apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein the second section is threaded, the connecting rod including a third section threadably and adjustably connected to the second section, the spring being a compression spring received about the second. section and exerting spring force on the first section, the connecting rod including a nut threadably received by the second section and acting against the spring, so that selective rotation of the nut changes the force which the spring exerts on the first section.

24. Apparatus as defined in claim 22, including means for selectively changing the force exerted by the spring.

25. Apparatus as defined in claim 22, including means for selectively changing the length of the connecting rod.

26. Apparatus as defined in claim 22, including means for selectively changing the force exerted by the spring, and means for selectively changing the length of the connecting rod.

27. Apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein the stop means includes a pair of stop screws.

28. Printing apparatus, comprising: a stationary frame, a print head and cooperable platen means, one of the print head and the platen means being stationarily mounted to the stationary frame and the other of the print head and the platen means being movably mounted to the stationary frame, means including a resilient drive connection for driving the movable one of the print head and the platen means during each Printing cycle to print data on a record member in a web, the stationary frame and the movable one of the print head and platen means having cooperable stop means for stopping the movement of the movable one of the print head and platen means at a predetermined stop position accompanied by yielding of the resilient drive connection, means for regulating the stop means selectively to vary the stop position and hence to effect printing impression control, the impression on the record member being unaffected by the action of the resilient drive connection, means for advancing the web to present record members successively to a printing position between the print head and the platen means, and means mounted by the movable one of the print head and the platen means and including relatively movable cooperable knives for severing a record member from the web.