US3657051A

US3657051A - Transfer printing addressing maching

Info

Publication number: US3657051A
Application number: US828226A
Authority: US
Inventors: John P Mccarthy
Original assignee: Dymo Industries Inc
Current assignee: Dymo Industries Inc
Priority date: 1969-05-27
Filing date: 1969-05-27
Publication date: 1972-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-18

Abstract

An addressing machine in which a list of addresses of fusible material are transferred from the surface of an elongate relatively transparent address tape to an elongate relatively opaque label tape or directly to envelopes by the application of heat, leaving behind sufficient material on the address tape to enable the address tape itself to be divided into legible address labels. The address tape and label tape or envelopes are advanced intermittently to a printing station where they are juxtaposed between a heated pad and a platen. The heated pad reciprocates to apply heat to the juxtaposed portions of the tapes (or tape and envelope). The machine is arranged for ready use as a tape-totape address transfer machine or a tape-to-envelope address transfer machine.

Description

U51 3,657,05l [451 Apr. w, 197

llnited States Patent cCarthy lOl/27 lOl/27 3,289,573 12/1966 Apicella................................... 3,304, 6 2/l967 Birch..........

[54] TRANSFER PRINTING ADDRESSING MACHING Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-G. E. Montone Attorney-Samuelson & Jacob [72] Inventor: John P. McCarthy, Randolph, Mass.

[73] Assignee: Dymo Industries, Inc., Emeryville, Calif.

May 27, 1969 Appl. No.: 828,226

[22] Filed:

ABSTRACT PATENTEDAPR 18 |972 SHEET 10F 9 SHEET 3 UF 9 INVENTOE JOHN P Mc Gamm EVS SHEET LLUF 9 INVENTOR EN JOHN F? McCQRTn-w FITTO NEYS PATENTEUAPR 18 m2 3 657, 051

sum s of 9 ENJOHN P McCARTHv HTTOR YS TRANSFER PRINTING ADDRESSING MACIIING The present invention relates generally to the addressing of various items and pertains, more specifically, to a machine for alternately making the label tape by transferring the list of addresses from an address tape, or transferring the list from the address tape directly to envelopes or like items to be addressed.

In an application of William D. Boatman et al., Ser. No. 759,533, filed Sept. l2, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,093 there is described a machine for preparing a master address tape having thereon a printed list of addresses selected from a larger group of addresses, the printed addresses being of a material-which can be fused or melted by the application of heat for subsequent transfer of each address from the master address tape to items to be mailed or to address labels to be afxed to such items.

The high-speed addressing capabilities of the above machine has led to the requirement for high speed machines and method which can accomplish the subsequent transfer of addresses from the master address tape prepared in the above machine to address labels or directly to items to be mailed. It has been found that such high-speed addressing can be accomplished effectively and reliably by first transferring the addresses from the master address tape to a label tape by intermittently advancing and juxtaposing increments of the address tape with corresponding increments of the label tape at a transfer printing station where a reciprocating heated pad can be employed to apply heat and press the tapes together to transfer sufficient fusible material from one tape to the other to establish a visible address on the label tape. The label tape is then divided into individual labels and applied to items to be addressed in a now well-known manner.

Additionally, it has been found that, since, in the above process, sufficient material is left behind on the address tape to retain a list of legible addresses thereon, the address tape itself may subsequently be divided into individual labels and applied to items to be addressed. l

It is also desireable to have the option of transferring the addresses from the master address tape directly to envelopes and like items.

lt is therefore an important object of the invention to provide a machine for transferring a list of addresses of fusible material from an elongate address tape to an elongate label tape with speed and accuracy and without destruction of the address tape.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which accomplishes the transfer of addresses of fusible material from an address tape either to an elongate label tape or to envelopes or like individual items to be addressed and does so with a heated pad which reciprocates toward and away from a platen to apply heat and pressure to successive increments of the address tape juxtaposed with corresponding portions of the label tape or envelopes or like individual items.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for the ready adjustment and alignment of the heated pad of the above machine relative to the platen for precise control of the heat and pressure applied during reciprocation of the heated ad. P The above objects, as well as further objects and advantages, are attained by the invention which may be described briefly as a machine for transferring a list of addresses, each of the addresses being of fusible material placed upon a surface of an increment of an elongate, relatively transparent heat transfer address tape in mirror image, from the address tape to an elongate, relatively opaque label tape, the machine comprising a frame, a heat transfer printing station on the frame, a platen located at the printing station, heating means located at the printing station and normally spaced from the platen, means for holding the address tape, means for holding a supply of label tape, means for incrementally advancing the address tape along a path of travel passing through the printing station between the heating means and the platen and spaced from the platen to sequentially juxtaposesuccessive increments of the address tape with the heating means and the platen, means for incrementally advancing the label tape along a path of travel passing through the printing station between the path of travel of the address tape and the platen to juxtapose successive increments of the label tape with the address-carrying surface of a corresponding increment of the address tape at the printing station, and means moveable to intermittently intercept and retract from the paths of travel of the address tape and the label tape at the printing station for alternately urging the heating means and the platen together and apart and urging the juxtaposed increments of the tapes into contact with one another between the heating means and the platen to fuse at least a portion of the material of the address on the surface of the juxtaposed increment of the address tape and transfer at least a portion of the material of the address to the juxtaposed increment of the label tape, the transferred portion being sufficient to establish a visible address on the increment of label tape.

The machine includes means for separating the address tape from the label tape subsequent to the fusion of the portion of the material of the address and while at least some of the material is still sufficiently fused to facilitate such separation. The separating means includes means synchronizing at least one of the tape advancing means with the movement of the moveable means to advance the one corresponding tape as the moveable means retracts, and means for tensioning at least that one corresponding tape at the printing station simultaneous with retraction of the moveable means to restore the one tape to its path of travel as the tape is released from between the heating means and the platen.

The invention will be more clearly understood and still further objects and advantages thereof will become apparent in the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a partially diagrammatic elevational view illustrating the tape transport arrangement of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of the tapes passing through the machine;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partially sectioned elevational view taken along line 5 5 of FIG. l;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5, but with component parts in another operating position,

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the machine in an envelope addressing configuration;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of envelope addressing at the printing station of the machine;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the machine;

FIG. ll is an elevational view of the portion illustrated in FIG. l0 as seen in the direction of the arrow in FIG. l0;

FIG. l2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 12--12 of FIG. l0;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. l2, but with certain cornponents in another operating position.

Referring now to the drawing, and especially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a transfer printing addressing machine constructed in accordance with the invention is designated generally at l0 and includes a central console l2, a forward section 14 and a rearward section 16. The machine l0 includes a frame 18, which in this instance is common to the console l2 and sections I4 and 16. The console carries a control panel 20 which includes the operating controls 22 for the machine.

Machine l0 is constructed to perform either one of two functions. The rst such function is to transfer a list of addresses from an address tape to a label tape, and will be described in connection with FIGS. 3 through 7. The second function is to transfer the list of addresses from the address tape to envelopes or like items to be addressed, and will be described in connection with FIGS. 8 through 14.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, as well as to FIGS. 1 and 2, an elongate address tape 30, which has been prepared as set forth in an application of William D. Boatman et al., Ser. No. 759,533, filed Sept. 12, 1968, carries a series of addresses 32 upon a surface 34 thereof (see FIG. 4), the addresses being of a material that will fuse or melt upon application of heat. EAch address appears in mirror image upon an increment 36 of address tape 30, the length of which increment is defined by the distance between adjacent apertures 38 in the address tape. Address tape 30, though translucent, is sufficiently transparent to enable the addresses 32 to be viewed through the tape in proper orientation.

Address tape 30 is held in machine 10 in the form of a coil 40 on supply reel 42 which is mounted for free rotation upon a spindle 44 affixed to the frame 18 in section 14. As best seen in FIG. 3, address tape 30 follows a path of travel which leads the tape over a feed roll 46 which is mounted on a shaft 47 for continuous rotation by a motor 48 housed within the section 14. Such continuous rotation of the feed roll 46 normally has no effect on the tape since there is ordinarily no positive engagement between the tape and the feed roll.

When it is necessary to advance tape from the coil 40, a pinch roll 50, which is carried by an arm 52 for pivotal movement toward and away from engagement with the surface of the feed roll 46, is pivoted in the direction indicated in FIG. 3 to urge the tape 30 against the surface of the feed roll 46 which will then advance tape from the coil 40 into a loop 54 between the feed roll 46 and a guide pin 55 and contained within a tunnel-like housing 56 on the section 14. Arm 52 is actuated by means of a solenoid 57 housed within section 14 which rocks a crank arm 58 connected to arm 52. When the loop 54 reaches a prescribed length, the tape 30 will intercept a beam oflight passing between a lamp 60 and a photocell 62, and, since the tape 30 is not completely transparent, the light beam will be interrupted. The solenoid 57 is electrically connected with the photocell 62 such that upon the detection of a sufficient length of tape 30 in loop 54, the pinch roll 50 will be pivoted away from the surface of the feed roll 46 to discontinue the advancement oftape into the loop.

As tape is drawn from loop 54 over the guide pin 55, the loop will shorten until depletion of the loop will bring the tape to the position indicated at 64 to permit a beam of light from a lamp 66 to strike a photocell 68 which is electrically connected with solenoid 57 to cause the pinch roll 50 to once again be pivoted into engagement with the feed roll 46 which will then replenish the loop 54.

Tape 30 is drawn from loop 54 by an intermittent feed mechanism 70 which includes a feed drum 72 having radially projecting pins 74 for engaging the apertures 38 of tape 30 to positively advance the tape in accurately measured increments. Feed drum 72 is rotated intermittently by means of a Geneva drive mechanism 76 through drive belts 78 and 80 which cooperate to drive a shaft 82 upon which the feed drum 72 is affixed. The Geneva drive mechanism 76 is, in turn, driven by a drive chain 83 which itself is driven by the main drive train of the machine which includes the main motor 84, a reduction gear 86, a clutch 88, and a drive chain 90. In this manner the address tape is made to follow a path of travel which passes through a heat transfer printing station 100 located on the frame of the console 12. Since the feed drum 72 draws the address tape from a free loop 54, resistance to accurate advancement of the tape is minimized, the tape is handled gently to preclude tearing of the tape, and each increment 36 of the address tape 30 is accurately registered at the printing station.

Upon leaving the feed drum 72, the tape 30 is led to a takeup loop 102, which lies between guide pins 104 and 106, the tape being urged into the loop 102 by virtue of a weight 108 which engages the bottom of the loop to draw the tape downwardly into the loop. The weight 108 is guided for vertical movement by engagement with a vertical guide in the form of a vertical slot 110 in a tunnel-like housing 112 carried by the frame 18 of the rearward section 16.

The tape 30 passes from loop 102 to a take-up reel 114 which is mounted on the frame 18 for rotation with a drive shaft 116. A continuously operating motor 118 drives a belt 120 which is selectively engaged with the drive shaft 116 by the operation of a clutch 122.

When the loop 102 reaches a predetermined maximum length, the tape 30 will intercept and interrupt a light beam between a lamp 124 and a corresponding photocell 12S, and, in response to such interruption, the clutch 122 will be actuated to engage the drive belt 120 with the drive shaft 116 to wind the tape 30 into a coil 126 upon the take-up reel 114. Upon depletion of the loop 102, the tape will reach the position indicated at 127, thereby permitting a light beam from a lamp 128 to strike a photocell 129 and, in response thereto, the clutch 122 will disengage and rotation of the take-up reel 114 will cease.

Thus, it will be seen that both the feed of tape 30 from the supply reel 42 and the collection of tape 30 upon the take-up reel 114 are accomplished independent of the incremental advancement of the tape 30 through the printing station and the accuracy of the incremental advancement is not disturbed by the supply and take-up functions of the machine 10. Additionally, the tape is handled gently and forces tending to tear the tape or enlarge the apertures 38 therein are minimized.

When the addresses 32 appearing on the address tape 30 are to be transferred onto an elongate, relatively opaque label tape 130 at the printing station 100, as seen diagrammatically in FIG. 4, the label tape 130 is passed below the address tape 30 and each address 32 is transferred as a corresponding address 132 to the upper surface 134 of an increment 136 of the label tape, the length of which increment is defined by the distance between adjacent apertures 138 in the label tape. Since the addresses appear on address tape 30 in mirror image, they will be in proper orientation when transferred to the label tape 130.

Label tape 130 is held in machine l0 in the form of a coil 140 on supply reel 142 which is mounted for free rotation upon a spindle 144 affixed to the frame 18 in section 14. As best seen in FIG. 3 label tape 130 follows a path of travel which leads the tape over a feed roll 146 which is mounted on a shaft 147 for continuous rotation by the motor 48 housed within the section 14. Such continuous rotation of the feed roll 146 normally has no effect on the tape since there is ordinarily no positive engagement between the tape and the feed roll.

When it is necessary to advance tape from the coil 140, a pinch roll 150, which is carried by an arm 152 for pivotal movement toward and away from engagement with the surface of the feed roll 146, is pivoted in the direction indicated in FIG. 3 to urge the tape 130 against the surface of the feed roll 146 which will then advance tape from the coil 140 into a loop 154 between the feed roll 146 and a guide pin 155 and contained within a tunnel-like housing 156 on the section 14. Arm 152 is actuated by means of a solenoid 157 also housed within section 14 which rocks a crank arm 158 connected to arm 152. When the loop 154 reaches a prescribed length, the tape 130 will intercept a beam of light passing between a lamp 160 and a photocell 162, and, since the tape 130 is not completely transparent, the light beam will be interrupted. The solenoid 157 is electrically connected with the photocell 162 such that upon the detection of a sufficient length of tape 130 in loop 154, the pinch roll 150 will be pivoted away from the surface of the feed roll 146 to discontinue the advancement of tape into the loop.

As tape is drawn from loop 154 over the guide pin 155, the loop will shorten until depletion of the loop will bring the tape to the position indicated at 164 to permit a beam of light from a lamp 166 to strike a photocell 168 which is electrically connected with solenoid 157 to cause the pinch roll 150 to once again be pivoted into engagement with the feed roll 146 which will then replenish the loop 154.

Tape 130 is drawn from loop 154 by an intermittent feed mechanism 170 which includes a feed drum 172 having radially projecting pins 174 for engaging the apertures 138 of tape 130 to positively advance the tape in accurately measured increments. Feed drum 172 is rotated intermittently by means of the Geneva drive mechanism 76 through drive belt 78 which drives shaft 182 upon which the feed drum 172 is affixed. In this manner the label tape is made to follow a path of travel which also passes through the heat transfer printing station 100 located on the frame of the console 12. Since the feed drum 172 draws the label tape from a free loop 154, resistance to accurate advancement of the tape is minimized, the tape is handled gently to preclude tearing of the tape, and each increment 136 of the label tape 130 is accurately registered at the printing station.

Upon leaving the feed drum 172, the tape 130 is led to a take-up loop 202, which lies between guide pins 204 and 206, the tape being urged into the loop 202 by virtue of a weight 208 which engages the bottom of the loop to draw the tape downwardly into the loop. The weight 208 is guided for vertical movement by engagement with a vertical guide inthe form of a vertical slot 210 in a tunnel-like housing 212 carried by the frame 18 of the rearward section 16.

The tape 130 passes from loop 202 to a take-up reel 214 which is mounted on the frame 18 for rotation with a drive shaft 216. The continuously operating motor 118 also drives a belt 220 which is selectively engaged with the drive shaft 216 by the operation of a clutch 222.

When the loop 202 reaches a predetermined maximum length, the tape 130 will intercept and interrupt a light beam between a lamp 224 and a corresponding photocell 225, and, in response to such interruption, the clutch 222 will be actuated to engage the drive belt 220 with the drive shaft 216 to wind the tape 130 into a coil 226 upon the take-up reel 214. Upon depletion of the loop 202, the tape will reach the position indicated at 227, thereby permitting a light beam from a lamp 228 to strike a photocell 229 and, in response thereto, the clutch 222 will disengage and rotation of the take-up reel 214 will cease.

Thus, it will be seen that both the feed of tape 130 from the supply reel 142 and the collection of tape 130 upon the takeup reel 214 are accomplished independent of the incremental advancement of the tape 130 through the printing station and the accuracy of the incremental advancement is not disturbed by the supply and take-up functions of the machine 10. Additionally, the tape is handled gently and forces tending to tear the tape or enlarge the apertures 138 therein are minimized.

The transfer of addresses from the address tape 30 to the label tape 130 is accomplished at the heat transfer printing station 100. A platen 250 is affixed to the frame 18 at the printing station below the paths of travel of the two

tapes

30 and 130. Located above the platen 250 and above the paths of travel of the

tapes

30 and 130 is a heating means 252 shown in the form of a heated pad assembly including a heated pad 254 (see FIGS. through 7) which is kept at a constant elevated temperature by an electrical heater element 256 which is controlled by a thermostat 258.

The heated pad assembly, including the heated pad 254, is carried at one end of a bracket 260 which is pivotally mounted on frame 18 by a pin 262. At the other end of the bracket 260 is a follower 264 which is resiliently biased against a cam 266 by means of helical springs 268 (only one of which is shown). The cam 266 is affixed to a cam shaft 270 for rotation therewith such that upon rotation of cam shaft 270, the bracket 260 will reciprocate to bring the heated pad 254 of the heated pad assembly toward and away from the platen 250. As best seen in FIG. 2, cam shaft 270 is rotated by the drive chain 90 of the main drive system. Since the cam shaft 270 and the Geneva drive mechanism 76 of the intermittent feed mechanisms for the tapes are directly coupled through drive chain 83, the reciprocation of the bracket 260 occurs in fixed timed relationship with the advancement of the

tapes

30 and 130, the relationship being such that during the dwell of the Geneva drive mechanism, when the tapes are stationary, the heated pad is brought down to apply heat to the tapes and press the tapes together against the platen, as seen in FIG. 5.

Ordinarily, the address tape 30, which is the uppermost of the two tapes, is made to travel a path which is spaced well above the platen 250 by virtue of

upper guide chutes

272 and 274 placed ahead of the printing station 100 and beyond the printing station, respectively. The label tape 130, which is the lowennost of the two tapes, enters a lower guide chute 276 and travels along a path which follows the table portion 278 of the console 12.

When the bracket 260 is reciprocated to move the heated pad 254 downwardly, the heated pad will intercept the path of travel of the tapes and will deflect the upper tape 30 downwardly out of its path of travel and into contact with the lower tape 130 against the platen 250.

As explained above, the characters of the address carried by the lower surface 34 of the address tape 30 are fonned of a material which will fuse, or melt, upon the application of heat. Thus, the heat and pressure applied by the heated pad will cause the characters of the address 32, which is located between the heated pad and the platen to fuse and be transferred to a corresponding juxtaposed increment of the blank label tape 130.

As the heated pad 254 is subsequently moved upwardly, it is essential that the address tape 30 retum to its original path of travel spaced from the label tape 130, as seen in FIG. 6, while the material of the characters of the address 32 is still fused or molten. Should the material solidify while the tapes are together, the material would tend to adhere the tapes together with concomitant deleterious effects on the quality of the address transferred to the label tape. Such a condition could even result in localized tearing of one or the other of the tapes.

Sine the tapes are made of paper, they are not very resilient, and the downward deflection of the upper address tape 30 is accomplished at the expense of drawing a small amount of tape 30 from the supply loop 54. In order to return the upper tape 30 to its normal path of travel, the rotation of feed drum 72 is timed to coincide with the raising of the heated pad 254 so that the slack introduced into the tape 30 during downward movement of the heated pad is taken up during subsequent upward movement of the heated pad and the tape 30 follows the heated pad upwardly and is lifted from contact with the lower tape 130 while the material of the transferred address is still molten enough to preclude adhesion of the tapes.

In order to assure that the tape 30 does indeed follow the upward movement of the heated pad, means are provided for tensioning the segment of tape 30 in the vicinity of the printing station so that the tape 30 remains taut and lifts away from tape 130. Thus, a foot 280 depends from a collar 282 pivoted upon a rod 284 carried by the frame 18 and is urged against the tape 30 by a weight 286 affixed to a cantilever 288 projecting from the collar 282. The force of the foot 280 against the tape 30 establishes a frictional drag force which tends to tension the tape 30 as the feed drum 72 rotates to take up the slack in the tape. The weight 286 may be moved along the cantilever 288 in order to selectively vary the magnitude of the frictional drag force.

The lower tape is fairly well confined to its path of travel by passing under

guide chutes

272 and 274. In addition, the lower tape 130 must pass under

transverse guides

290 and 292 which, in addition to their primary function which will be explained below, serve to confine the lower tape to its lower path of travel.

It is important that the pressure between the heated pad 254 and the platen 250 be maintained at an optimum level and substantially uniform over the entire area over which heat and pressure is applied to the juxtaposed increments of the

tapes

30 and 130. In addition, the spacing between the heated pad and the platen should be maintained at an optimum value. Thus, the heated pad assembly is mounted upon the bracket 260 for selective adjustment of the heated pad 254 upwardly or downwardly with respect thereto by means best illustrated in FIG. 7. In the heated pad assembly the pad 254 is aixed to a channel member 296 by means of screws 295. A layer 294 of heat insulating material is placed between the heated pad 254 and the channel member 296. The bracket 260 carries a boxlike cross member 298 having a top 300 and depending sides 302. A rod 304 passes through the top 300 of the cross member 298 and is threaded at 306 to receive a nut 308. By turning the nut 308, the rod 304 can be selectively moved upwardly or downwardly with respect to the cross member 298.

A pin 310 passes through the rod and extends transversely through enlarged apertures 312 in the sides 302 to be journalled in the channel member 296 at each end of the pin 310. A pair of set screws 313 fix the channel member 296 in place on the pin 310. Thus, the channel member 296 and the heated pad 254 are suspended from the cross member 298 by the rod 304 and pin 310 and may be moved upwardly or downwardly by turning nut 308. A pair of blocks 314 are carried by the pin 310, one at each side of the rod, and a corresponding pair of stops 316, shown in the form of set screws, are carried by the cross member and may be selectively moved upwardly or downwardly to fix the position at which the blocks 314 will rest as the rod 304 is drawn upwardly. Careful adjustment of the position of the stops 316 will fix the side-to-side alignment as well as the vertical location of the heated pad relative to the bracket and the platen. Additionally, in all positions of vertical adjustment, the sct screws 313 may be loosened so that the heated pad may be pivoted about the longitudinal axis of the pin 310 to rock the heated pad forward or back with respect to the cross member 298. Thus, the heated pad can be made precisely parallel to the platen at any vertical position, the proper side-to-side alignment being available through independent adjustment of the two stops 316 and the proper frontto-back alignment being available through pivotal movement of the heated pad about pin 310. The heated pad 254 is preferably constructed of aluminum and the lowermost surface thereof is advantageously coated with a fluoroplastic, such as Teflon. The platen is advantageously fabricated of a heat-resistant rubber, such as a silicone rubber, in order to absorb and distribute the pressure exerted by the pad.

Not all of the material of each address 32 on the address tape 30 need be transferred to the label tape 130 in order to establish a legible address 132 on the label tape. It has been found that the transfer of a sufficient amount of material from an address 32 to establish an adequate address 132 will leave behind enough material to maintain a legible address 32 on the address tape 30. Thus, when the

tapes

30 and 130 are collected upon their respective take-up

reels

114 and 214, each

tape

30 and 130 has a list of addresses thereon. Hence, both tapes may be severed to divide the tapes into individual labels corresponding to the increments upon which the addresses appear.

The label tapes 130, having a relatively opaque, light background with dark characters, produces labels which may be affixed to items of any color.

The address tape 30, having a relatively transparent background with dark characters, produces labels which are advantageously affixed only to items providing a light background. These labels are affixed to such items with the address-carrying surface 34 placed against the surface of the item so that the address thereon is viewed through the label and appears on proper orientation.

Thus, two items may be addressed to each addressee of a selected number of addressees with only one selection operation to make the address tape 30 and only one transfer operation to make the label tape.

When the addresses 32 appearing on the address tape 30 are to be transferred directly onto a series of envelopes or like items to be addressed, the machine 10 is not provided with a supply of label tape, but instead, an envelope feed mechanism 320 is placed into position in front of the console l2, as seen in FIG. 8 (and in phantom in FIG. 1) so as to feed envelopes sequentially into

transverse guides

290 and 292 to be carried along a path of travel extending in a direction transverse to the direction of the path of travel of the address tape 30. The envelope feed mechanism may be chosen from several suitable feed mechanisms currently available, but must be of a type which can be synchronized with the operation of the intermittent tape feed means andthe reciprocation of the bracket 260 carrying the heated pad 254.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 5, 6, 8 and 9, the transverse guides 290 and 292 will lead each envelope 330 along a path of travel passing below the address tape 30 at the printing station 100. The

guides

290 and 292 are mounted for selective adjustment along the table portion 278 of the console 12 to accommodate envelopes of different sizes, each guide having a clamp 332 cooperatively engaged within a slot 333 in the table portion 278 and selectively releasable to slide a guide with its corresponding clamp along the table portion until the proper spacing is obtained between the guides.

The envelope feed mechanism 320 provides each advanced envelope 330 with sufficient momentum to bring the envelope into the printing station where the envelope is halted by stop means shown in the form of stop fingers 334, at least one of which stop fingers is placed in the path of the oncoming envelope.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and l0 through l2, the stop fingers 334 are carried upon arms 336 which are each carried by a block 338 affixed to the lowennost end of a vertical rod 339 slideably received within a bracket 340 mounted on frame 18. each vertical rod 339 being resiliently biased upwardly by a helical spring 342 compressed between the lower portion 344 of the bracket and a collar 346 fixed to the rod 339.

The stop fingers 334 are held down against the table portion 278 by a pin 348 anchored at its ends in blocks 338 and carried by a slide 350 received within corresponding slots 352, one slot 352 being in one end of each of a pair of like arms 354. The arms 354 are pivotally mounted upon the frame 18 above the table 278 at pivot 356 and carry between them a cam follower 358 which is resiliently biased against a cam 360 by the upward force of helical springs 342.

Cam 360 is mounted for rotation with a cam shaft 362 which is rotated in timed relationship with the reciprocation of the bracket 260 by a drive belt 364 (see FIG. 2) which is driven by a drive chain 366 through a right angle drive 368. Since drive chain 366 is driven by rotation of cam shaft 270, synchronism is maintained between the rotation of cam 360, the reciprocation of bracket 260 and the operation of the tape feed drum 72.

The position of the stop fingers 334 on their respective arms 336 is selectively adjustable along the arms 336 by virtue of the stop fingers being selectively slideable within slots 370 in the arms 336 to adjust for various sized envelopes.

Transfer of an address from an increment of tape 30 to an envelope 330 held stationary at the printing station 100 by the stop fingers 334 is accomplished by reciprocation of the bracket 260 to bring the heated pad 254 down against the tape 30 to press the tape against the envelope and heat the material of the address, all as described above in connection with the transfer of an address to an increment of a label tape.

Upon completion of the address transfer operation, the heated pad 254 and the tape 30 are lifted from the envelope 330. The cam 360 will then have been rotated to a position where the arms 354 may pivot upwardly to raise the stop fingers 334 out of the path of travel of the envelope.

At the same time, an ejector means is brought into engage ment with the envelope to drive the envelope from the printing station 100. As best seen in FIGS. 10, ll and 13, the ejector means includes a pair of drive wheels 380 mounted upon a drive shaft 381 which continuously rotates below the table 278, the drive wheels projecting through the table to engage an envelope 330 when the envelope is in the printing station 100, These drive wheels 380 are ineffective to move the erivelope while the envelope is held stationary by the stop fingers 334; however, when the cam shaft 362 rotates to raise the stop fingers 334, a further cam 382, which is also mounted for rotation with cam shaft 362 will permit a cam follower 384 to move to the left, as viewed in FIG. 13, under the force of a helical spring 386 which will draw a crank arm 383 to the left and rock a shaft 390, to which the crank arm 388 is affixed, in a counterclockwise direction. Such movement of shaft 390 will lower a pair of carrier arms 392 which are affixed to the shaft 390 to bring an idler wheel 394 toward each drive wheel 380 and force the envelope into driven engagement with the drive wheels 380, whereupon the addressed envelope 330 is ejected from the printing station and passes from the console 12 onto a conveyor 396 (see FIGS. 1 and 8) placed behind the console.

When the machine l is being operated to transfer addresses from an address tape 30 to a label tape 130, as aforesaid, it is unnecessary and undesireable to have the reciprocating components of the envelope stop means and the envelope ejector means in operation. Thus, machine l0 is provided with means for selectively precluding movement of the stop fingers 334 and related reciprocating components and for selectively precluding movement of the idler wheels 394 and related reciprocating components.

Turning to FIGS. 10, 12 and 14, a thumb screw 400 is seen mounted on an angle bracket 402 immediately above the pivoted arms 354. In FIG. l2, the thumb screw 400 is raised high enough above the arms 354 to permit pivotal movement of the arms in response to rotation of the cam 360. However, in FIG. 14, the thumb screw 400 has been moved downwardly to engage and hold the arms 354 in a downward position where cam follower 358 cannot be acted upon by the cam 360 and reciprocation of the arms 354 and stop fingers 334 is precluded.

Referring now to FIGS. and 13, a slide block 410 is mounted for selective sliding movement within a slot 412 in a bar 414. By selectively sliding the block 410 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 13 the block 410 will retain the crank arm 338 far enough to the right to preclude engagement of the cam follower 384 with the cam 382 and thereby preclude reciprocation of carrier arms 392 and idler wheels 394.

Thus, machine 10 is easily used to perform either of the two functions set forth above; that is, addresses may be transferred from the address tape 30 to a label tape 130 in a tape-to-tape transfer operation or, alternately, addresses may be transferred from the address tape 30 to envelopes 330 in a tape-toenvelope operation.

It is to be understood that the above detailed description of an embodiment of the invention is provided by way of example only. Various details of design and construction may be modified without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A machine for transferring a list of addresses, each of said addresses being of fusible material placed upon a surface of an increment of an elongate, relatively transparent heat transfer address tape in mirror image, from the address tape to an elongate, relatively opaque label tape, said machine comprising:

a frame;

a heat transfer printing station on the frame;

a platen located at the printing station;

heating means located at the printing station and normally spaced from the platen;

means for holding the address tape;

means for holding a supply of label tape;

means for incrementally advancing the address tape along a path of travel passing through the printing station between the heating means and the platen and spaced from the platen to sequentially juxtapose successive increments of the address tape with the heating means and the platen;

means for incrementally advancing the label tape along a path of travel passing through the printing station between the path of travel of the address tape and the platen to juxtapose successive increments of the label tape with the address-carrying surface of a corresponding increment of the address tape at the printing station;

fill

means moveable to intermittently intercept and retract from the paths of travel of the address tape and the label tape at the printing station for alternately urging the heating means and the platen together and apart and urging the juxtaposed increments of the tapes into contact with one another between the heating means and the platen to fuse at least a portion of the material of the address on the surface of the juxtaposed increment of the address tape and transfer at least a portion of the material of the address to the juxtaposed increment of the label tape, said transferred portion being sufficient to establish a visible address on said increment of label tape; and

means for separating the address tape from the label tape subsequent to the fusion of the portion of the material of the address and while at least some of said material is still sufficiently fused to facilitate such separation, said separating means including means synchronizing at least one of said tape advancing means with the movement of the moveable means to advance the corresponding tape as the moveable means retracts; and

means for tensioning at least that one corresponding tape at the printing station simultaneous with retraction of the moveable means to restore said one tape to its path of travel as the tape is released from between the heating means and the platen.

2. The machine of claim l wherein:

the platen is affixed to the frame;

the path of travel of the address tape extends in a direction from the address tape holding means, across the printing station and thence to the address tape advancing means, said address tape advancing means including an intermittent feed mechanism having means for positively engaging and drawing the address tape across the printing station;

the path of travel of the label tape extends from the label tape supply, across the printing station in a direction generally parallel to and spaced from the path of travel of the address tape, and thence to the label tape advancing means, said label tape advancing means including an interrnittent feed mechanism having means for positively engaging and drawing the label tape across the printing station;

said intermittent feed mechanisms being interconnected for concurrent operation and simultaneous advancement of the tapes; and

said moveable means includes means mounting the heating means upon the frame for reciprocating movement toward and away from the platen, movement of the heating means toward the platen urging the address tape out of its normal path of travel and into contact with the label tape against the platen and movement of the heating means away from the platen allowing return of the address tape to its normal path of travel spaced from the label tape.

3. The machine of claim 2 wherein the synchronizing means synchronizes both intermittent feed mechanisms with the moveable means such that the tapes are advanced simultaneous with movement of the heating means away from the platen, the tensioning means includes means placing a frictional drag force upon the address tape to tension the address tape as that tape is advanced such that the address tape will follow the heating means as the heating means is retracted until the address tape is restored to its normal path of travel, and the separating means includes means for retarding the label tape from movement out of its normal path of travel and toward the path of travel of the address tape to assure that the tapes are separated while at least some of said material is still sufficiently fused to facilitate such separation.

4. The machine of claim 2 wherein said moveable means includes a reciprocating member and said heating means includes a heated pad, the machine including:

means for maintaining the heated pad at a constant elevated temperature during operation ofthe machine; and

means for aligning and adjusting the position of the heated pad relative to the platen in order to control the amount and uniformity of heat and pressure applied to the tapes during said transfer.

5. The machine of claim 2 wherein said moveable means includes a reciprocating member and said heating means includes a heated pad assembly including a heated pad, the machine including means for adjusting the position of the heated pad relative to the reciprocating member, and aligning the heated pad relative to the platen, said adjusting and aligning means including:

a rod carried by the reciprocating member and selectively moveable relative thereto in the direction of the reciprocating movement;

a pin carried intermediate the ends thereof by the rod and having a longitudinal axis extending transverse to the direction of the reciprocating movement, said pin being received within the heated pad assembly adjacent the ends ofthe pin; pair of blocks carried by the pin, one block located between the rod and each end of the pin; pair of stops carried by the reciprocating member and aligned with the blocks, the stops being mounted for selective placement relative to the reciprocating member in the direction of reciprocating movement such that movement of the rod will bring the blocks against the stops and the placement of the stops will determine the location of the heated pad on the reciprocating member; and

means enabling selective pivotal movement of the heated pad about the axis ofthe pin.

6. The machine of claim 5 wherein the pin is journalled in the heated pad assembly to permit rocking movement of the heated pad relative to the reciprocating member and said means enabling selective pivotal movement includes means for afiixing the heated pad assembly in a selected pivoted position on the pin.

7. The machine of claim 2 wherein at least one of said tapes, after leaving the intermittent feed mechanism provided for said one tape, follows a path of travel which includes a loop into which said feed mechanism advances the tape, said machine including:

a take-up reel along the path of travel of the tape beyond the loop;

means for operating the take-up reel in response to the accumulation of a prescribed length of tape within said loop to draw tape from the loop;

means for detecting the withdrawal of the prescribed length of tape from the loop and discontinuing operation of the take-up reel;

a vertical guide in the frame of the machine adjacent the loop; and

a weight mounted for sliding movement in said guide and engaging said loop to positively draw the tape from the feed mechanism into the loop and to yield to the withdrawal of the tape from the loop by the take-up reel.

8. A machine for transferring a list of addresses, each of said addresses being of fusible material placed upon a surface of an increment of an elongate, relatively transparent heat transfer address tape in mirror image, from the address tape to envelopes to be addressed, said machine comprising:

a frame;

a heat transfer printing station on the frame;

a platen located at the printing station;

means for holding the address tape;

means for incrementally advancing the address tape along a path of travel passing through the printing station between the heating means and the platen and spaced from the platen to sequentially juxtapose successive increments of the address tape with the heating means and the platen; means for advancing envelopes in a direction along a path of travel transverse to the direction of the path of travel of the address tape and passing across the printing station between the path of travel of the address tape and the platen;

stop means mounted for movement on said frame into and out of the path of travel of the envelopes for halting an envelope in juxtaposition with an increment of address tape at the printing station;

means moveable to intermittently intercept and retract from the paths of travel of the address tape and the envelopes at the printing station for alternately urging the heating means and the platen together and apart and urging the juxtaposed increment of the tape and the envelope into contact with one another between the heating means and the platen to fuse at least a portion of the material of the address on the surface of the juxtaposed increment of the address tape and transfer at least a portion of the material of the address to the juxtaposed envelope, said transferred portion being sufficient to establish a visible address on said envelope;

means for separating the address tape from the envelope subsequent to the fusion of the portion of the material of the address and while at least some of said material is still sufficiently fused to facilitate such separation, said separating means including means synchronizing the address tape advancing means with the movement of the moveable means to advance the address tape as the moveable means retracts; and

means for tensioning the address tape at the printing station simultaneous with retraction of the moveable means to restore the address tape to its path of travel as the tape is released from between the heating means and the platen; and

ejector means mounted for movement on said frame into and out ofthe path of travel of the envelopes for engaging the envelope in the printing station subsequent to said transfer and transporting said envelope from the printing station.

9. The machine of claim 8 wherein:

the platen is affixed to the frame;

the path of travel of the address tape extends in a direction from the address tape holding means, across the printing station and thence to the address tape advancing means, said address tape advancing means including an intennittent feed mechanism having means for positively engaging and drawing the address tape across the printing station; and

said moveable means includes means mounting the heating means upon the frame for reciprocating movement toward and away from the platen, movement of the heating means toward the platen urging the address tape out of its normal path of travel and into contact with the juxtaposed envelope against the platen and movement of the heating means away from the platen allowing return of the address tape to its normal path of travel spaced from the envelope.

Claims

1. A machine for transferring a list of addresses, each of said addresses being of fusible material placed upon a surface of an increment of an elongate, relatively transparent heat transfer address tape in mirror image, from the address tape to an elongate, relatively opaque label tape, said machine comprising: a frame; a heat transfer printing station on the frame; a platen located at the printing station; heating means located at the printing station and normally spaced from the platen; means for holding the address tape; means for holding a supply of label tape; means for incrementally advancing the address tape along a path of travel passing through the printing station between the heating means and the platen and spaced from the platen to sequentially juxtapose successive increments of the address tape with the heating means and the platen; means for incrementally advancing the label tape along a path of travel passing through the printing station between the path of travel of the address tape and the platen to juxtapose successive increments of the label tape with the addresscarrying surface of a corresponding increment of the address tape at the printing station; means moveable to intermittently intercept and retract from the paths of travel of the address tape and the label tape at the printing station for alternately urging the heating means and the platen together and apart and urging the juxtaposed increments of the tapes into contact with one another between the heating means and the platen to fuse at least a portion of the material of the address on the surface of the juxtaposed increment of the address tape and transfer at least a portion of the material of the address to the juxtaposed increment of the label tape, said transferred portion being sufficient to establish a visible address on said increment of label tape; and means for separating the address tape from the label tape subsequent to the fusion of the portion of the material of the address and wHile at least some of said material is still sufficiently fused to facilitate such separation, said separating means including means synchronizing at least one of said tape advancing means with the movement of the moveable means to advance the corresponding tape as the moveable means retracts; and means for tensioning at least that one corresponding tape at the printing station simultaneous with retraction of the moveable means to restore said one tape to its path of travel as the tape is released from between the heating means and the platen.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein: the platen is affixed to the frame; the path of travel of the address tape extends in a direction from the address tape holding means, across the printing station and thence to the address tape advancing means, said address tape advancing means including an intermittent feed mechanism having means for positively engaging and drawing the address tape across the printing station; the path of travel of the label tape extends from the label tape supply, across the printing station in a direction generally parallel to and spaced from the path of travel of the address tape, and thence to the label tape advancing means, said label tape advancing means including an intermittent feed mechanism having means for positively engaging and drawing the label tape across the printing station; said intermittent feed mechanisms being interconnected for concurrent operation and simultaneous advancement of the tapes; and said moveable means includes means mounting the heating means upon the frame for reciprocating movement toward and away from the platen, movement of the heating means toward the platen urging the address tape out of its normal path of travel and into contact with the label tape against the platen and movement of the heating means away from the platen allowing return of the address tape to its normal path of travel spaced from the label tape.

4. The machine of claim 2 wherein said moveable means includes a reciprocating member and said heating means includes a heated pad, the machine including: means for maintaining the heated pad at a constant elevated temperature during operation of the machine; and means for aligning and adjusting the position of the heated pad relative to the platen in order to control the amount and uniformity of heat and pressure applied to the tapes during said transfer.

5. The machine of claim 2 wherein said moveable means includes a reciprocating member and said heating means includes a heated pad assembly including a heated pad, the machine including means for adjusting the position of the heated pad relative to the reciprocating member, and aligning the heated pad relative to the platen, said adjusting and aligning means including: a rod carried by the reciprocating member and selectively moveable relative thereto in the direction of the reciprocating movement; a pin carried intermediate the ends thereof by the rod and having a longitudinal axis extending transverse to the direction of the reciprocating movement, said pin being received within the heated pad assembly adjacent the endS of the pin; a pair of blocks carried by the pin, one block located between the rod and each end of the pin; a pair of stops carried by the reciprocating member and aligned with the blocks, the stops being mounted for selective placement relative to the reciprocating member in the direction of reciprocating movement such that movement of the rod will bring the blocks against the stops and the placement of the stops will determine the location of the heated pad on the reciprocating member; and means enabling selective pivotal movement of the heated pad about the axis of the pin.

6. The machine of claim 5 wherein the pin is journalled in the heated pad assembly to permit rocking movement of the heated pad relative to the reciprocating member and said means enabling selective pivotal movement includes means for affixing the heated pad assembly in a selected pivoted position on the pin.

7. The machine of claim 2 wherein at least one of said tapes, after leaving the intermittent feed mechanism provided for said one tape, follows a path of travel which includes a loop into which said feed mechanism advances the tape, said machine including: a take-up reel along the path of travel of the tape beyond the loop; means for operating the take-up reel in response to the accumulation of a prescribed length of tape within said loop to draw tape from the loop; means for detecting the withdrawal of the prescribed length of tape from the loop and discontinuing operation of the take-up reel; a vertical guide in the frame of the machine adjacent the loop; and a weight mounted for sliding movement in said guide and engaging said loop to positively draw the tape from the feed mechanism into the loop and to yield to the withdrawal of the tape from the loop by the take-up reel.

8. A machine for transferring a list of addresses, each of said addresses being of fusible material placed upon a surface of an increment of an elongate, relatively transparent heat transfer address tape in mirror image, from the address tape to envelopes to be addressed, said machine comprising: a frame; a heat transfer printing station on the frame; a platen located at the printing station; heating means located at the printing station and normally spaced from the platen; means for holding the address tape; means for incrementally advancing the address tape along a path of travel passing through the printing station between the heating means and the platen and spaced from the platen to sequentially juxtapose successive increments of the address tape with the heating means and the platen; means for advancing envelopes in a direction along a path of travel transverse to the direction of the path of travel of the address tape and passing across the printing station between the path of travel of the address tape and the platen; stop means mounted for movement on said frame into and out of the path of travel of the envelopes for halting an envelope in juxtaposition with an increment of address tape at the printing station; means moveable to intermittently intercept and retract from the paths of travel of the address tape and the envelopes at the printing station for alternately urging the heating means and the platen together and apart and urging the juxtaposed increment of the tape and the envelope into contact with one another between the heating means and the platen to fuse at least a portion of the material of the address on the surface of the juxtaposed increment of the address tape and transfer at least a portion of the material of the address to the juxtaposed envelope, said transferred portion being sufficient to establish a visible address on said envelope; means for separating the address tape from the envelope subsequent to the fusion of the portion of the material of the address and while at least some of said material is still sufficiently fused to facilitate such separation, said separating means including means synchronizing the address tape advancing means with the movement of the moveable means to advance the address tape as the moveable means retracts; and means for tensioning the address tape at the printing station simultaneous with retraction of the moveable means to restore the address tape to its path of travel as the tape is released from between the heating means and the platen; and ejector means mounted for movement on said frame into and out of the path of travel of the envelopes for engaging the envelope in the printing station subsequent to said transfer and transporting said envelope from the printing station.

9. The machine of claim 8 wherein: the platen is affixed to the frame; the path of travel of the address tape extends in a direction from the address tape holding means, across the printing station and thence to the address tape advancing means, said address tape advancing means including an intermittent feed mechanism having means for positively engaging and drawing the address tape across the printing station; and said moveable means includes means mounting the heating means upon the frame for reciprocating movement toward and away from the platen, movement of the heating means toward the platen urging the address tape out of its normal path of travel and into contact with the juxtaposed envelope against the platen and movement of the heating means away from the platen allowing return of the address tape to its normal path of travel spaced from the envelope.