A label box includes a dispensing region and a storage region for holding a stack of labels, all of which have the same two-dimensional contour. The dispensing region includes a guiding-and-holding body that has been manufactured by an additive-manufacturing process based on a three-dimensional computer model thereof. The guiding-and-holding body forms a guide space for receiving and guiding of the stack and for dispensing the labels. The guide space includes a guide section that is adjustable to conform to the contour. The guiding-and-holding body also includes a securing region for at least partially securing the label box to a holding device.

A tensioning control device having a first motor that applies a torque to a first end of a substrate in a first direction and a second motor that applies a torque to a second end of the substrate in a second direction that is generally opposite the first direction is disclosed. In this manner, the first motor and the second motor apply torque to the substrate in opposing directions, thereby placing the substrate in tension. In one embodiment, the first motor applies a torque to the first end of the substrate that is equal to the torque applied to the second end of the substrate by the second motor. By placing the substrate in tension in this manner, an actuator is able to incrementally move the substrate in a forward direction and a backward direction independent of the tension applied to the substrate.

A winding device (10) for winding a web (92) onto a reel (90) has a drive shaft (20), a gear (30), a clutch shaft (63), an energy storage means (50), a clutch (60) and an output shaft (80). The gear (30) is configured, as a positive-engagement gear, to transmit a rotary movement of the drive shaft (20) to a first clutch shaft element (61) assigned to the clutch shaft (63). The clutch shaft (63) is connected via the clutch (60) with the output shaft (80) in order, selectively, to enable or prevent a transmission of torque between the clutch shaft (63) and the output shaft (80). The gear (30) has, without the energy storage means (50) having effect, a first predetermined transmission ratio (i_0) between the drive shaft (20) and the clutch shaft (63), and the energy storage means (50) is configured to store and release rotational energy and to vary the transmission ratio.

A tensioning control device having a first motor that applies a torque to a first end of a substrate in a first direction and a second motor that applies a torque to a second end of the substrate in a second direction that is generally opposite the first direction is disclosed. In this manner, the first motor and the second motor apply torque to the substrate in opposing directions, thereby placing the substrate in tension. In one embodiment, the first motor applies a torque to the first end of the substrate that is equal to the torque applied to the second end of the substrate by the second motor. By placing the substrate in tension in this manner, an actuator is able to incrementally move the substrate in a forward direction and a backward direction independent of the tension applied to the substrate.

A media processing device includes: a hopper supporting media units (e.g. cards), and a biasing assembly biasing the cards toward a hopper outlet; an input roller for accepting a single card at a hopper slot inlet; a pick roller at the outlet for dispensing a card from the hopper to a media processing path; a motor having an output shaft; a primary drivetrain segment connecting the output shaft with the pick roller; an auxiliary output selector connected to the primary drivetrain segment and switchable between first and second output configurations; first and second auxiliary drivetrain segments connecting the output selector, respectively, with the input roller and a release member for disengaging the biasing assembly; and a selector input movable to switch the output selector between the first output configuration, coupling the primary and first auxiliary drivetrain segments, and the second output configuration, coupling the primary and second auxiliary drivetrain segments.

According to an embodiment, an image processing apparatus has a first interface for communicating with a server, a second interface for communicating with a label printer, and a third interface for acquiring an image including a label image. A processor of the apparatus is configured to receive the image via the third interface, extract the label image from the received image, perform image processing on the extracted label image, transmit the processed extracted label image to the server via the first interface along with a request to generate label data based on processed extracted label image, receive the generated label data from the server via the first interface, and transmit the received label data to the label printer along with a request to print a label corresponding to the label data.

A label cutter comprises a movable cutting blade, a pre-tensioning device, and a trigger. The pre-tensioning device pre-tensions the cutting blade into an arrested position. Upon its release, the cutting blade moves from the arrested position to a cutting position for cutting a label strip. In the arrested position, the cutting blade is retracted behind a component of the cutter.

The present invention provides a label printer, including an upper cover module and a bottom case module configured to cooperate with the upper cover module in printing. An elastic wall is disposed at an articulating part between the upper cover module and the bottom case module. An inclined surface is provided at a corresponding position of the lower cover module. When the upper cover is opened upward to the maximum extent, a tail end of the elastic wall cooperates with the inclined surface to form a support structure to prevent the upper cover module from falling due to the gravity and the like when the upper cover module is opened.

One embodiment of this invention is an elastic roller including: a roller shaft; and an elastic material member surrounding the roller shaft. The elastic material member may include: an inner layer elastic material member disposed on an outer periphery of the roller shaft, a coating layer disposed on an outer periphery of the inner layer elastic material member, a first side end part circumferential surface having a first side end part, and a second side end part circumferential surface having a second side end part. The coating layer is formed from a silicone resin having a hardness of 20 degrees or less based on a spring type hardness tester Asker C in accordance with SRIS 0101. The second side end part circumferential surface having an elastic roller diameter that gradually decreases towards the second side end part opposite to the first side end part.

A method of labeling products includes providing a labeling machine, performing on command, by a splicing device, a splicing between a first splicing region, obtained from a backing ribbon being wound onto a first winding element, and a second splicing region, which is formed on a connection element that is connected to a second winding element, cutting on command, by a first cutting device, said backing ribbon at the portion that extends between said first splicing region and the backing ribbon wound onto the first winding element, and continuously splicing the backing ribbon of the adhesive labels unwound from the feeder spools and of the backing ribbon being wound onto the winding elements, cutting said backing ribbon, by a first cutting device, simultaneously or after the splice between said first splicing region and said second splicing region on the part of said first splicing device, and labeling said products with said labels.