Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Michael A Whitby

Randall L Redman

Austin M Knoblauch

Justin T Blackford

An apparatus for holding label stock includes a body including a base and a roll holding area with a roll holding support extending from the base for receiving a roll of label stock. A plurality of rollers are located along a label stock feed path from the roll holding area to a label stock exit zone of the body. The plurality of rollers include a tensioning roller that is movable relative to the base to dissipate tension loads on label stock during label stock movement.

Printer cassette with movable tensioning roller and associated printer

A printer device includes a main housing including a print media cassette receiving slot. A first drive assembly of the main housing includes a motor operatively coupled to rotate a drive gear. A print media cassette is removably inserted into the print media cassette receiving slot, and includes a second drive assembly having a driven gear that is engaged with the drive gear. One of the drive gear or the driven gear is mounted for movement such that at least one of (i) a position of an axis of the drive gear is movable relative to the main housing or (ii) a position of an axis of the driven gear is movable relative to the printer cassette. A retaining mechanism includes a portion movable into a gear train coupling position in which the drive gear and the driven gear are held in driving contact with each other.

Mechanism for coupling independent gear trains and associated printing device

A wrapping machine for wrapping trayed food products includes a wrap station at which trayed food products are wrapped and a film dispensing system for drawing out film at the wrap station. A conveying system moves trayed food products through the wrapping machine. The machine may include a printer and label apply arrangement positioned for applying labels to trayed food products after wrapping, where the printer and label apply arrangement includes a support that is pivotable between an operating position and an access position. The film dispensing system may include a knife movable for cutting the film, and opposite ends of the knife are mechanically linked via spaced apart first and second belts to maintain alignment of the opposite ends.

Growing community of inventors

Tipp City, OH, United States of America

Michael A Whitby