US2101219A - Apparatus for marking articles - Google Patents

Description

Dec.- 7, 1937. H. KERSHAW APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed Jun 24, 1936 I 4 Sheets-Sheet l 2 I 4 4 5 11W w? Hen 3/ [Gems/1am D86. 7, 1937. H, K R 2,101,219"

APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Fil ed June 24, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Henry Dec. 7, 1937. H. KERSHAW APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed June 24, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 v He nry Kezskw 45% I (J/Noam;

' Dec. 7, 1937. H. KERSHAW APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed June 24, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Henry Ker-5km W Patented Dec. 7, 1937 I H I V D UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,101,219 I APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Henry Kershaw, Newark, N. J.

Application June 24,1936, Serial No. 87,069

11 Claims. 101-40) My invention relates to apparatus for mark- Figure is a vertical section taken on line 5- ing articles. of Figure 2,

An important object of the invention is to Figure 6 is an end elevation, Da s Omitted.

, provide apparatus for marking rotatable articles of a modified form of apparatus embodying the 5 so that the marking is efiected quickly, accurateinvention, 1' ly, and without liability of the .marking being F ur is a p a v pa ts r k n away. of smeared. the first form of the invention,

A further object of the invention is to provide Figure 8 is a transverse section taken on line means for rotatably supporting an article and 8-8 of Figure 'I, the printing pad being shifted 1 bodily shifting the same while in contact with a to .the lowered position,

relatively stationary marking element, whereby Figure 9 is a longitudinal section through the the article is turned and its surface has rolling printing pad, in the lowered position, showing engagement with the marking element. the tube rolling beneath the same,

A further object of the invention is to provide Figure 10 is a side elevation of a modified form means for rotatably supporting the articles so of apparatus embodying the invention, 16 that the marked portion thereof will not be en- Figure 11 is a transverse section taken on line gaged or smeared before drying. |l--ll of Figure 10,

A further object of the invention is to provide Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view showing the means for supporting and advancing the elepainted lines applied to the glasses, and,

ments to be marked, and so constructed and ar- Figure 13 is a central vertical section through 20 ranged that the elements will gravitate to the the air heating device, parts in elevation. proper position thereon. Attention being called first to Figures 1 to 9,

A further object of the invention is to provide inclusive, the numeral l0 designates an elonapparatus of the above mentioned character, gated horizontal table top, mounted upon legs which is continuous in operation and which has II, and these legs are connected by feet l2. The 25 units designed to handle two tubes or articles, table top I0 is provided with a panel guidein the marking of the same. ways or grooves l3, as shown.

A further object of the invention is to provide At the ends of the table top I0, the legs llv are simple and reliable means for supplying the ink provided with bearings i4, receiving transverse to the printing element. shafts l5, provided at their ends with bevel- 30 A further object of the invention is to provide gears l6, rigidly secured thereto, and engaging means for branding the mark or design upon the bevel-gears IT. The bevel-gears H are rigidly rotatable element. secured to the .ends of horizontal longitudinal A further object of the invention is to provide shafts l8, journalled in stationary bearings l9, means for applying marks or designs upon a rocarried by arms 20, rigidly attached to the table 35 tatable vitreous element, formed of glass, porcetop l0, as shown.

lain or the like, with means to heat the element Rigidly mounted upon the transverse shafts l5 thus marked to bake or burn the applied mark are pairs of sprocket wheels 2|, engaged by or design therein. sprocket chains, 22, the upper runs of which 40 Other objects and advantages of the invention travel within the longitudinal guide-ways i3. 40 will be apparent during the course of the follow- These sprocket chains preferably embody rollers ing description. 23, and these rollers travel upon the bottomof In the accompanying drawings forming a part he guide-ways relieving excessive friction.- of this application and in which like numerals although any other Suitable means may be are used to illustrate like parts throughout the Ployed for this purpose- The-Sprocket chajins are 45 same included in an endless conveyor, as is obvious.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a machine em Mounted 9 9 endless or i t chains, at equi-distantly spaced points longitudibody.ng my invention,

Fi re 2 is a side elevation of d f th nally thereof, are carriages 24 for rotatably supt b k one en 0 e porting the articles to be marked, such as radio 50 par S to en away; tubes 25, so that these articles are bodily shifted Figure 3 is a side elevation of the machine, and are capable of turning upon their1ongitudi Darts broken away, nal axes. Each carriage comprises a base 21,

Figur 4 is an exploded Perspective V ew O the horizontally arranged and extending transversely printing pad and associated elements, of the sprocket chains 22. Pairs of couplings 28 are rigidly attached to each base 21 and are as long as the width of the base 21, and the vertical webs of these couplings operate within the guide ways I3, upon opposite sides of the sprocket chains 22, and are pivotally connected with the sprocket chains by the pintles of the sprocket chains, as is obvious. Vertical up-rights 29 are rigidly mounted on the base 21, and extend upwardly beyond the same for a substantial distance and have angularly disposed ends 30, disposed opposite and in alignment with angularly disposed ends 3|, formed upon the base 21. A pair of rotatable supporting shafts 32 are arranged between each pair of angularly disposed ends 30 and 3|, and are journalled therein. These shafts are spaced and carry rollers 33. The rollers 33 are provided to compensate for the radial dimension of the flange 25' of the radio tube, the flange 25 engaging the shafts 32. Further, the rollers 33 on each supporting shaft 32 are spaced, and the body of the tube 25 is spaced from the supporting shafts. That portion of the body of the tube 25 which is marked, travels between the spaced rollers 33 and hence is held out of contact with supporting shafts 32, so that the markings cannot become smeared while wet. Particular attention is called to the fact that each pair of supporting shafts 32 is arranged transversely of the endless carrier and is vertically inclined, extending downwardly toward the angularly disposed end 3|. The end 3| is provided with a screw-threaded opening, for receiving an adjustable stop, in the form of a bolt 34, having a lock nut 35. This bolt is arranged to engage the end of the tube, and limit its downward movement. From the foregoing description, it is thus seen that a duplex arrangement is provided for receiving a pair of tubes 25, and the tubes are supported at an angle or inclination so that they automatically gravitate to the lower-most position, which is the correct position for marking. This is important; as it assures that the tubes will be held in the correct longitudinal position, at the instant of marking. The tubes are thus rotatably supported at an inclination, and are free to turn upon their longitudinal axes. When the tubes turn on their longitudinal axes, the supporting shafts 32 turn. In addition to this turning movement, the tubes travel bodily with the endless conveyor and carriage.

Printing devices 36 are arranged adjacent the opposite longitudinal edges of the table top I, to act upon the tubes 25 in each pair, when advanced adjacent to the same. Each printing device comprises a head 31, having a recess for receiving a block 38, held therein, and this block carries a rubber pad 39, having raised characters or designs 40, such as letters, numerals, or any other desired design. A swinging support is provided for the head, comprising a pair of arms 4|, which are angularly adjustably connected with arms 42, by means of clamping screws 43. The arms 42 are rigidly secured to the head 31. The arms 4| are in turn rigidly secured to a sleeve 44, and this sleeve is pivotally connected with stationary bearings 45, by means of'a pin 46, extending through the sleeve and bearings. Rigidly connected with the sleeve 46, and preferably formed integral therewith, is a crank 41, and this crank has pivotal connection at 48, with a link 49, pivoted at 50, with a lever 5|. This lever is pivoted at 52 with a, stationary bracket 53, as shown. Connected with the lever 5|, at a point between its ends, is a roller 54, and this roller operates within an operating cam groove 55,

formed in the face of a cam wheel 56, rigidly mounted upon the longitudinal shaft Hi. It might be stated at this point that the head 31 and its printing pad are shifted to the lowermost position, before the tube or article to be printed reaches the printing position, and the tube is advanced under and in contact with the raised characters of the printing pad, then in the lowermost position. The result is that the rotatable tube is travelling bodily with the endless carrier while the printing pad is held stationary with respect to the longitudinal travel of the carrier, andthe engagement of the rotatable element 25 with the raised characters of the printing pad causes the rotatable element to turn upon its longitudinal axes and therefore properly presents its surfaces for contact with the printing raised characters of the pad. The pad remains in the v lowermost position until the tube has passed from beneath the same and the printing operation has been completed, the head 31 and the pad being then shifted to the uppermost position so that the raised characters of the printing pad are inked, as will be described.

Means are provided to ink the raised characters of the printing pad, comprising inking rollers 51, which are vertically disposed and rotatably mounted upon a carriage 58. The carriage 58 reciprocates in a horizontal direction and is provided with a dove-tailed extension 59, slidable in a horizontal dove-tailed groove 60, formed in a horizontal arm 6|, rigidly secured to a vertical arm 62, in turn rigidly attached to the table top In. The carriage 58 is reciprocated by means of a pin 63, secured thereto, and operating within an elongated horizontal slot 64, formed in the horizontal arm 6|. The pin 63 engages within the forked end 65 of a vertically swinging lever 66, pivoted at 61, and the lower end of this lever carries a roller 68, engaging in a cam groove 69, formed upon a cam wheel 10, which is rigidly mounted upon the longitudinal shaft I8. The numeral 1| designates an inking disk, which is vertically arranged and spaced from the vertical arm 62, and is rotatable, and is supported by a stub shaft 12, in turn mounted within a bearing 13, carried by the vertical arm 62. The inking'rollers 51 travel above the supporting shaft 12 of the inking disk. The inking disk 1| is provided with spaced lugs 14, upon its rear side, and these lugs are adapted to be engaged by trips 15, carried by the angularly disposed ends 3|. The arrangement is such that the inking disk is intermittently turned, and the parts .are so timed in operation that the inking disk is stationary while the inking rollers are passing over the inking disk. The parts are also so timed that when the head'31 is shifted to the uppermost position, the inking rollers 51 will be engaging the inking disk 1|, and the inking rollers 51 will then be shifted across the inking pad to ink the raised letters or characters, in a direction from the inking disk, and then for a second time across the printing pad to ink the raised characters, and then returned to the inking disk, subsequently to which the head 31 is shifted to the lowermost position. As clearly adjusting screw 83, having swivelled connection therewith and screw-threaded engagement with the vertical arm 62. The outer end of the tube 11 is closed by a removable head 84, having screw-threaded engagement therewith, and this head carries a gland 85, receiving a piston rod 86, having a head or button 81. The piston rod 86 is connected with a piston 88, moved inwardly by a compressible coil spring 89. Upon its upper portion, the tube 11 has a screw-- that the flame from a gas burner I82 may be threaded tubular nipple 98, leading into the tube and adapted for screw-threaded engagement witl the reduced end 9| of an ink holding tube 82, which is collapsible. When it is desired to ink the inking disk, the tube 82 may be squeezed or collapsed in whole or in part, while the piston rod 88 is retracted, and after the ink 'is thus fed into the tube 11, the piston is released so that the spring moves forwardly and forces-the ink out through the elongated slot 11'.

In Figure 6, I have shown a modified form of the invention, wherein the printing devices are dispensed with and branding devices 93 substituted therefor. Each branding device comprises a stationary arm or bracket 84, which is arranged in the position which would be occupied by the swinging arm of the printing head 31. This arm has an angularly disposed end 95 to which are rigidly secured rods 96 carrying a head 81, having a recess 98, receiving a metal block 99, provided with raised printing or branding characters I88. The head 91 has an opening It, so

projected upon the block 99. This burner is preferably carried by the end 95. All other parts remain identical.

It might be stated at thispoint that 1 contemplate using the branding device as a substitute for the printing device, and I also contemplate using the branding device with the printing device, in which event, the devices will be properly arranged to act upon the articles in succession.

In Figure 10, I have shown a further modified form of apparatus for placing designs or characters upon vitreous articles made of glass, porcelain, or the like. This apparatus is similar to the first form of apparatus, shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, and embodies a plurality of the printing devices 36 arranged'to act upon each article in succession. If it is desired to apply rings of ceramic paint. of difierent colors to a drinking glass, as an example, each printing pad would have a raised straight rib 36' and the several straight ribs would be arranged out of alignment witheach other so that the painted rings 31' would be produced upon the glasses. Afterthe printing of the rings upon the article has been completed, the article from each side of the machine passes beneath a drying tube are turned during the heating process by contacting with a stationary plate I8l. beneath which they travel. Heated air issupplied to each dryapertured tube II8, which is surrounded. by the coil 186.

The operation of the first form of the appa: ratus, as shown in Figures 1 to 9, inclusive, is as follows:

The operator stands at the intake end of the endless carrier, which is the left end of the machine in Figure 3, and feeds a pair of tubes 25, or other articles, to each carriage, as the carriage reaches the take-up position. By virtue of the .inclinat'ion of the supporting shafts or elements 32, these tubes automatically gravitate into the .lowermost or correct position for printing. As each tube reaches or approaches the printing position, the'head and printing pad is in the lowermost position, and the tube passes under the fiat face of the printing pad and contacts withthe raised ing tube I83 from a pipe I85, which leads to the endless carrier and the contact of the tube with r the raised characters of the printing pad causes the tube to turn upon its longitudinal axes, while travelling beneath the printing pad, thus presenting its curved surface in proper contact with the raised characters. The method of printing is thus that of bodily moving the tube 25 and causing the same to turn upon its longitudinal axis and thus have rolling contact with the raised characters or letters- After the tube is passed beyond and out of contact with the raised characters of the printing pad, the head 31 is shifted to the uppermost position, and the inking rollers 51 pass from the inking disk H and travel across the printing pad in contact with the raised characters and back' across the printing pad in contact with the raised characters, and then into engagement with the inking disk. Subsequently to this, the head 31 is again shifted to the lowermost position.

The printed tubes or articles travel to the discharge end of the machine and will-be dried by the time such discharge end is reached. If desired, the printed articles may be dried by blow ing heated air thereon. The printed articles discharge from the discharge end of the machine and may be-collected upon an inclined conveyor or the like. If it should happen that the printing is.not entirely dry, the same is not apt to smear, as the, flange of the tube 25 will retain the I printed matter spaced from the endlessconveyor. It-is thus seen that the entire printing operation, after the tubes are inserted into the machine, maybe effected without further handling of the same. l

The mode of operation of the modified form of apparatus, as shown in Figure 6, is quite similar to that described in connection with the first form of the invention. As each tube approaches the branding device, its portion 25a will travel beneath the heated block 99 and have rolling engagement with the raised characters or letters I88,- the tube travelling bodily with the endless carrierand turning thereon upon its longitudinal axis, as explained in connection with the first form of the invention.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in Figures 7 and 8, the several printing devices 36,

upon each side of the machine,-act upon the article, such as a drinking glass, and produce a plurality of lines of different colors. These glasses travel beneath the raised ribs 01 the printing devices and have rotatable engagement therewith. When passing beyond the printing devices, each glass continues to turn upon its longitudinal axis by travelling beneath the track I04, so that the paint is dried or burned into the glass. It is obvious that this form of the invention is not restricted to the printing of rings upon drinking glasses as the same may be employed to print data upon milk bottles or like articles.

It is to be understood that forms oimyinvention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a machine for marking rotatable articles, an endless carrier having a generally horizontal run, spaced transverse pairs of vertically inclined holding devices mounted upon the endless carrier to assume positions in the generally horizontal run, the vertically inclined holding devicesextending downwardly toward the sides of the carrier, each vertically inclined holding device being adapted to support the rotatable article in a vertically inclined position so' that it may gravitate to a selected lowered position, means to move the carrier so that the articles upon the horizontal run are moved in succession to marking positions, marking devices disposed at the marking positions .and arranged to be engaged by the travelling articles and thereby causing the articles to be turned and marked.

2. In a machine for marking rotatable articles, an endless carrier having a generally horizontal run, a plurality of spaced holding devices mounted upon the endless carrier to assume positions in the generally horizontal run, each holding device being vertically inclined to support the rotatable article in a vertically inclined position so that the article may gravitate to a selected lowered position, means to limit the downward movement of the vertically inclined article to define the selected lowered position, means to move the carrier so that the articles upon the horizontal run are moved in succession to a marking position, and a marking device disposed at the marking position to be engaged by the travelling article and thereby cause the article to be turned and marked.

3. In a machine for marking rotatable articles, an endless carrier having a generally horizontal run, mounted upon the endless carrier to assume positions in the generally horizontal run, each holding device comprising spaced vertically inclined rollers which are free to turn upon their axes, the rollers serving to support the rotatable article and retain the same vertically inclined so that the article may gravitate to a selected lowered position, means to limit the downward movement of the vertically inclined article, means to move the carrier so that the articles upon the generally-horrzontal run are moved in succession to a marking position, and a marking device disposed at the marking position and held agaihst movement in thedirection of travel of the run of the carrier and located to be engaged by the travelling article and thereby cause the travelling article to be turned and marked.

4. In a'machine ior marklng rotatable articles.

a carriage, spaced vertically inclined rotatable a plurality. of spaced holding deviceselements mounted upon the carriage and adapted to receive the article thereon for rotatably I supporting the same and to permit of the articles gravitating to a lowered position, means to limit the downward movement of the article, means to move the carriage in a substantially horizontal plane, a marking device, and means for holding the marking device against movement in the direction of movement of the carriage and in a positionso that the article is brought into engagement with the marking device and turned and marked.

5. In a machine for marking rotatable articles, a traveling support, spaced transverse pairs of vertically inclined holding devices mounted upon the traveling support, the vertically inclined holding devices diverging downwardly, the vertically inclined holding devices rotatably supporting the articles so that they may gravitate to a lowered position, means to move the traveling support so that the rotatable articles are brought to a marking position, and marking devices arranged near the marking position to engage with the rotatable articles upon the outer sides thereof remote from the vertically inclined holding devices.

6. In a machine for marking rotatable articles, a traveling support, spaced pairs of vertically inclined holding devices mounted upon the traveling support for rotatably supporting the rotatable articles and permitting the same to gravitate to a lowered position, means to move the traveling support so that the rotatable articles are brought to a marking position, and marking devices arranged near the marking position to engage and mark the articles.

7. In a machine for marking rotatable articles, a traveling support, spaced vertically inclined holding devices mounted upon the traveling support to rotatably support the articles and permit the same to gravitate to a lowered position, means to move the traveling support so that the rotatable articles are brought to a marking position, and a marking device arranged near the marking position to engage with the rotatable articles and mark the same.

8 In a machine for marking rotatable articles, a traveling support, a plurality of vertically inclined holding devices mounted upon the traveling support to rotatably support the articles and permit the same to gravitate to a lowered position, means to move the traveling support, and means to mark the articles while they are moving with the holding devices and turning upon their axes with relation thereto.

9. In a machine for marking rotatable articles, a traveling support, a plurality of holding devices mounted thereon, each holding device including rollers having their axes of rotation vertically inclined, the rollers having the rotatable article disposed above and upon them and being spaced for a distance less than the diameter of the rotatable article so that they will hold the rotatable article against lateral .displacement and prevent the article from passing between them, the rollerspermitting the article to gravitate to a lowered position, means to move the traveling support, and means to mark the articles while moving with the holding devices and turning upon their axes with relation thereto.

10. In a machine for marking rotatable articles, a traveling support, a pair of spaced shafts rotatably mounted upon the traveling support and having their axes of rotation vertically inclined, rollers mounted upon the shafts and extending radially beyond the same and being spaced for a distance less than the diameter of the rotatable article arranged above and supported thereon, and means to mark the article while being supported by the rollers.

11. In a machine for marking rotatable articles, an endless carrier, means for supporting the carrier including transverse shafts, holding devices mounted -upon the carrier and serving to 'rotatably support the articles, a shaft extending longitudinally of the endless carrier and. geared with one transverse shaft, a vertically swinging marking device arranged near the endless carrier, a cam mounted upon the longitudinal shaft, means driven by the cam to move the marking device, a reciprocatory carriage, an inking roll mounted upon the carriage to engage the marking device, a pivoted lever to move the carriage,

a cam'mounted upon the longitudinal shaft, and

means operated by the last named cam to move the lever.

HENRY KERSHAW.

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