GB187588A - Improvements in or relating to machines for marking corks - Google Patents

Abstract

187,588. Albay, J. T. d' Oct. 20, 1921. [Convention date]. Branding by heat; printing on corks.- In a machine for branding corks on their end faces and side face the corks are carried in a circular path by a continuously rotating drum which also carries the stamps for marking the end faces. As shown the drum is constituted by two discs 1. 1 mounted on an axle 3 and connected by a curved plate 2 which is gapped to provide a recess defined by rollers 4, a balance weight 18 being provided for the drum. Rollers 8 on a spring arm 7 allow a cork to be fed from a channel 5 into the recess. A quick-pitch screw 27 is now rotated owing to the engagement of a roller arm 30 with a fixed cam so as to compress the cork longitudinally against a heated marker 21 which is at the same time pushed through a hole 20 in the disc 1 by a pivoted arm carrying a roller 22 engaging a suitable cam. The parts are returned by springs to normal positions thus releasing the cork which next engages a segment 17 whereby it is rotated on the rollers 4 while passing in compression under a second marker 13, pivotally mounted in brackets 15, 15<1> carried by a spring-pressed lever 9, a spring 16 retaining the marker in normal position. Before falling out of the recess the cork is smoothed by a band 44 moving at a different speed to the drum and passing over heated rollers 45, 46, to the former of which a suitable dope such as paraffin is applied. The marker 13 comprises a silver plate, Fig. 5, fixed to a metal plate 34 removably dove-tailed into a member 35 above which is a resistance wire 36 placed between two mica sheets 37, 38, a covering asbestos sheet 39 also being provided. Several cork-receiving recesses may be provided and a second marker 21 may oppose the first for marking the other end of the cork. The stamp 21 is constructed in a similar manner to the member 13 and is supported by springs so as to adapt itself to the face of the cork. Current is supplied to the resistances from insulated rings 32 fixed on the axle 3 these collecting from brushes 33 connected to the supply.