Portable Handheld Self-Adhesive Tape Applicator and Printer

Abstract

A thermal transfer printer incorporated into a portable handheld applicator for self-adhesive tape (also known as a tape gun), allowing to print variable data in real-time on the backside of the tape before it is manually applied onto packaging and/or products. Variable logistical and/or traceability information can be printed directly onto any off-the-shelf self-adhesive tape so that an additional adhesive label on the product and/or packaging will no longer be required. It also allows for a reduction in the amount of preprinted tape and/or packaging material. All needed visual differentiations (branding, product information, packaging content or other) can be displayed on the tape while keeping the packaging itself standardized.

Claims

1. A portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator comprising: a first roller for unwinding a roll of self-adhesive tape; a second roller for applying the self-adhesive tape onto a substrate when the applicator is pressed and rolled against said substrate, wherein the applicator is arranged to transfer the self-adhesive tape from the first roller to the second roller, said tape applicator further comprising a printer, and wherein the first roller is loaded with standard off-the-shelf self-adhesive tape without thermal reactive coating, and the printer is a thermal transfer printer for printing on a non-adhesive side of the self-adhesive tape.

2. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 1, wherein the thermal transfer printer comprises: a third roller and a fourth roller, wherein the third roller and/or the fourth roller are/is mechanically driven by the first roller; and said thermal transfer printer is arranged to receive a printing ribbon that runs between the third roller and the fourth roller, wherein the third roller is configured for unwinding and feeding unused printing ribbon, and the fourth roller is configured for winding and recuperating used printing ribbon.

3. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 1, wherein the thermal transfer printer comprises a printing head movable between a printing position and a stand-by position.

4. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 3, wherein the printing head is configured to press the printing ribbon against the non-adhesive side of the self-adhesive tape when said printing head is in printing position.

5. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 1, wherein the first roller comprises a one-way clutch allowing said first roller to rotate exclusively in a first rotational direction for unwinding the roll of self-adhesive tape.

6. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 1, wherein the second roller comprises a one-way clutch allowing said second roller to exclusively rotate in a second rotational direction during use for guiding the self-adhesive tape onto the substrate.

7. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 2, wherein the fourth roller comprises a one-way clutch allowing said fourth roller to rotate exclusively in a rotational direction for winding the used printing ribbon.

8. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator comprises a trigger for controlling the thermal transfer printer.

9. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 3, wherein the trigger is mechanically connected to the printing head, wherein the printing head is configured to move into printing position when the trigger is pulled, and wherein the printing head is configured to retract into stand-by position when the trigger is released.

10. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 2, wherein the third roller and/or the fourth roller are engaged to the first roller when the trigger is pulled and are disengaged when the trigger is released.

11. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator comprises at least one sensor for measuring a rotational speed of the first roller.

12. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 3, wherein the printing head is activated when the rotational speed of the first roller is nonzero.

13. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 3, wherein during operation a printing speed of the printing head is proportional to the rotational speed of the first roller.

14. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 3, wherein the printing head is mechanically connected to a compression system for maintaining pressure on the printing ribbon when said printing head is in printing position.

15. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 2, wherein the third roller and the fourth roller are embodied inside a removable and disposable printing cartridge.

16. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 15, wherein the third roller and/or the fourth roller are/is manually rotatable via a rotation knob on an outer side of the printing cartridge.

17. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 2, wherein the third roller is connected to a mechanical break for tensioning the printing ribbon.

18. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 1, wherein the self-adhesive tape comprises a plastic material and/or a paper material.

19. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator comprises a handle for holding the applicator.

20. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator comprises an electrical power source.

21. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 1, wherein an outer casing of the applicator comprises a cutting device.

22. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 1, wherein the outer casing of the applicator comprises a flexible plate protruding from said outer casing.

23. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator comprises a wireless and/or a wired communication system for receiving data to be printed.

24. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator comprises a digital memory for storing data to be printed.

25. The portable handheld self-adhesive tape applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator is connectable or comprises a voice input system and processor for converting spoken information into text in a format suitable to be printed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating one or more embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings:

[0041] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing a side view of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] Embodiments of the present invention are directed to portable handheld applicator 1. A thermal printhead may be advantageously located slightly above the print position, which is on the outside of self-adhesive tape roll 10, while also positioned in between third roller 6 and fourth roller 7 with thermal printing ribbon 8. Third roller 6 located before the print position is the feed roller on which new unused printing ribbon is reeled. Fourth roller 7 located after the print position is the uptake roller that collects ribbon 8 after it's being used. This causes the trajectory of the printing ribbon to run in between the two rollers 6, 7 underneath printhead 9 and over substrate/tape roll 10.

[0043] By engaging/pressing trigger 11 on handle 12 of portable handheld applicator 1, a series of mechanisms are set in motion that together perform a print cycle.

[0044] Firstly, the physical movement of trigger 11 is preferably mechanically transferred to printing head 9 in order to actuate itself, and printing ribbon 8 running underneath it, against the print position on the non-adhesive side of self-adhesive tape 3. Subsequently the trigger may also mechanically engage a clutch that connects the axis of fourth roller 7 to the axis of first roller 2.

[0045] When tape roll 10 is unwound (as would happen when it is applied onto a substrate) through the clutch fourth roller 7 shall also rotate. And thus transport printing ribbon 8 through the print position under printing head 9 while printing head 9 is pressing it against roll 10 of tape 3 which is rotating at the same, or at almost the same, speed.

[0046] Subsequently the thermal dot line of printing head 9 shall be activated. This will produce a print by melting coloring agent from moving printing ribbon 8 onto the outside of rotating self-adhesive tape roll 10 as it passes underneath printing head 9.

[0047] The printing speed of the printing head is preferably proportional to the rotational speed of the first roller. This results in compensating any possible fluctuations in the rotating speed of the tape roll that could otherwise stretch or compress the print.

[0048] When the print cycle is completed, trigger 11 may be released/disengaged. Once the trigger is disengaged, printing head 9 and printing ribbon 8 will move back to their stand-by position inside the printer allowing tape roll 10 to rotate freely. Simultaneously the third and fourth rollers 6, 7 shall also become static as the clutch between the axis of fourth roller 7 and the axis of first roller 2 will also disengage upon releasing trigger 11. Meaning that with trigger 11 disengaged, the system will apply tape without prints.

[0049] By timing the engagement of trigger 11, the user can print on any desired position(s) of the tape strip as he applies it on the substrate. Print content can be digitally pre-loaded into the system memory, or directly sent to the memory system via wireless or wired communication, which then is rendered into an image in real-time as the tape in being applied. This allow the prints to contain real-time digitally generated variable data. Including dynamic barcodes, self-updating (date) counters and more.

[0050] Embodiments of the present invention can include every combination of features that are disclosed herein independently from each other. Although the invention has been discussed in the foregoing with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the invention is not restricted to this particular embodiment which can be varied in many ways without departing from the invention. The discussed exemplary embodiment shall therefore not be used to construe the appended claims strictly in accordance therewith. On the contrary the embodiment is merely intended to explain the wording of the appended claims without intent to limit the claims to this exemplary embodiment. The scope of protection of the invention shall therefore be construed in accordance with the appended claims only, wherein a possible ambiguity in the wording of the claims shall be resolved using this exemplary embodiment.

[0051] Note that in the specification and claims, about or approximately means within twenty percent (20%) of the numerical amount cited. The terms, a, an, the, and said mean one or more unless context explicitly dictates otherwise.

[0052] Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of all references, applications, patents, and publications cited above are hereby incorporated by reference. Unless specifically stated as being essential above, none of the various components or the interrelationship thereof are essential to the operation of the invention. Rather, desirable results can be achieved by substituting various components and/or reconfiguration of their relationships with one another.