Inventors:
Erick L. Ahlgren - Houston TX
Arthur H. McMorris - Houston TX
Jerry L. Miille - Houston TX
Joseph L. Schweppe - Houston TX
Assignee:
Houston Engineering Research Corporation
International Classification:
B41F 1700
Abstract:
A new and improved automatic label printing apparatus for printing a label onto various types and shapes of packages and containers including a probe unit adapted to have mounted therewith a printing head. The probe unit is mounted for movement in three mutually perpendicular directions for locating a printable area on a container and for thereafter indexing the probe and printing head over the printable area for applying a label thereto. The probe unit is releaseably mounted to break away from its normal directional movement in order to prevent probe damage. In an alternate embodiment of this invention, a label printing apparatus is provided for printing a label onto a curved surface. And, in a further alternate embodiment, label printing apparatus is provided for printing a label at a rate coordinated with conveyor speed.