US2148550A - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 28? i939 H E HAASE 2,14&55

PRINTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 7, 1936 ,zzfzfc Haase INVENTOR @Mg/QM BY w' Patented Feb. 2.8, 1939 UNITED STATES PRINTING DEVICE Heinrich Ernst Haase, Chicago, lll., assigncr to Industrial Patents Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application December 7, 1936, Serial No. 114,689

17 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved printing device.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved printing device. r, Another object of the invention is to provide a device for printing on tubular articles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for printing on tubular articles shaped more or less in the form of a helix.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ldevice for direct printing on sausage casings. n

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims which follow.

Attempts have been made from time to time l to mark sausage products in various ways. Direct printing upon natural sausage casings prepared from animal intestines has been inherently fraught with diiculties due to the nature of the tissue.

For example, natural casings prepared from ani- 2o mal intestines, because some of the bers are shorter than others, are more or less in the form of a helix. Such casings cannot be flattened intoa smooth plane and consequently are not adapted for printing with a flat bed type of printing press. In accordance with the present invention, a single thickness of the casing is moved in contact with the printing means. This is accomplished by individually shirring and supporting the casings over a curved cylindrical surface Xedly secured relative to a rotatable printing roller. The casings are mechanically stretched at the immediate point of printing to assure a fiat smooth printing surface.

Reference is had to the drawing in which like 3,-, characters of reference are used to designate similar elements.

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a printing device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan View of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line fi-i of Figure l illustrating the means for stretching the casing at the point of Contact with the printing roller.

Figure 5 is a detail plan view showing the inking roller mechanism.

Figure 6 is a side view of the mechanism shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view showing the printing roller mechanism.

In the drawing, a cylindrical mandrel i, of 55 metal or other suitable material, isshown rigidly (ci. 10i-s6) secured at one end to supporting frame 2, which is bolted or otherwise secured to floor 3. Mandrel l is curved substantially in the form of a goose neck for suitably carrying the helically formed casings.

Mandrel l at a suitable point between its ends, is provided with stop element 4 and, approaching its free end 5, is gradually flattened on its upper surface, as at 6, to provide a smooth flat surface at the point of printing. Intermediate the attened portion 6, mandrel i is recessed at l for mounting shaft 8 and bearing roller 9. The peripheral surface of roller 9 rotates slightly above the surface E and in contact with the casings as they pass thereover.

On its lower surface and to either side of roller 9, as at I@ and l l, mandrel i is suitably tapered toward its free end 5. Clusters of relatively stiii bristles i 2 or other resilient material, 'are suitably mounted to extend from the surface of tapered portmns I0 and il and thus serve to stretch the tubular casings as they are moved relative to the immediate point of printing.

Printing assembly I3, comprising assembly frame Hi and printing roller l5, is pivotally l;

mounted, as at I6, to supporting frame 2 for movement from and toward mandrel l.

Printing roller l5 is pinioned to shaft H journaled in bearings I8 bolted, or otherwise secured,

.to assembly frame Ui. Shaft ll' is rotatably driven by power transmitted from motor i9 through the agency of shaft 2Q, worm 2i and worm wheel 22. Motor i9 is bolted, or otherwise secured, to standard 23 suitably mounted on assembly frame Ill.

As shown in Figure 7, printing roller i5 com- .I

prises a central printing band 25) carrying type designating suitable indicia and, at its outer peripheral edges, is annularly flanged to provide bearing surfaces 25. Roller El is provided with central area 26 having an outer covering of composition rubber 2l or other suitable resilient material and, like printing roller i5, is annularly flanged at its outer peripheral edges to provide bearing surfaces 2B.

In practice, the casings 29 are individually shirred and supported over mandrel l against stop element ii. The forward end of casing 29 is left extending slightly beyond roller VSi whence it is suitably stretchedby bristles i 2 and ready for printing at that point. Assembly frame Hi, mounting printing assembly i3, is then pivoted toward mandrel I and, as shown in Figure '7, printing roller i5 is moved into Contact with the casing against the roller 9.

The' bearing surfaces 25 of rotating printing roller I5 serve to frlctionally press the casing against the bearing surfaces 28 of roller 8 and thus feed thef casing from the mandrel during printing of the casing by band 24 against resilient surface 21 of roller 9. 'Ihe tension of printing roller I5 against the casing moved over roller 9 may be regulated by weight 30 so as not to cut the casing. Weight 30 is adjustably mounted on shaft 3| to counterbalance the Weight of the printing assembly I3 at pivotal point I6.

Ink from reservoir 32 is gradually but continuously applied to the type of printing band 24 through the medium of inking roller 33 and doctor rollers 34, and 36. Roller 36 is rigidly secured to shaft 31 journaled in bearings 38. Roller 35 is rigidly secured to shaft 38 journaled for slidable longitudinal movement in bearings 4U. Roller 34 is rigidly secured to shaft 4| journaled for slidable longitudinal movement inbearings 42.' Bearings 38, 40 and 42 are each suitably secured to assembly frame I4. Roller 36 is rotatably driven by frictional engagement with printing roller I5, roller 35 by frictional engagement with roller 36 and roller 34 by frictional engagement with roller 35.

In practice, roller 36 is rotated in a constant plane against the type of printing band 24 of roller I5 while rollers 34 and 35 are longitudinally moved relative to each other and relative to roller 36 so as to provide an even distribution of the ink before its application to printing band 24. To accomplish this, shafts 38 and 4I are provided with grooved rollers 43 and 44, respectively, for the reception of ball ends 45 and 46 of shaft 41 pivotally mounted, as at 48, on standard 49 bolted, or otherwise secured, to assembly frame I4. Pivotal movement is imparted to shaft 41 through the medium of rocker 50, crank 5| and connecting rod 52. Crank 5| is rigidly secured to shaft 53 journaled in bearings 54. Shaft '53 is rotatably driven by power transmitted from shaft I1 through the medium of sprockets 55 and 56 and chain 51.

Ink from reservoir 32 is intermittently fed to roller 34 through the medium of roller 33. Roller 33 is rotatably mounted to extend below reservoir 32 and when rotated serves to carry a thin lm of ink from reservoir 32. Reservoir 32 is rigidly secured to arm 58 pivotally mounted, as at 59, to standard 60 and is adapted for movement from and toward roller 34. Standard 68 is rigidly secured to assembly frame I4. Pivotal movement of arm 58 and. thus the reservoir 32 is controlled through the 'medium of roller 6| in contact with rotatable cam 62. Cam 62 is rigidly secured to shaft 63 journaled in bearings 64. Shaft 63 is rotatably driven by power transmitted from shaft 53 through the mesh of gears 65 and 66.

When dwell 61 of cam 62 is rotated in contact with roller 6|, reservoir 32 is moved toward roller 34 whence roller 33 will contact roller 34, be rotated by roller 34 and thus deliver a supply of ink to roller 34. The ink supply to roller 34, as hereinbefoie explained, will be evenly distributed over the surfaces of rollers 35 and 36 and thus be carried to printing band 24.

The present invention has been described as applied to the printing of natural sausage casings by way of illustration. It will be understood that the invention is also applicable to printing synthetic sausage casings made from cellulosic material and other tubular articles regardless of the materials from whichmanufactured.

.I claim:

1. A device for printing tubular articles comprising a rotatable printing roller, means for applying ink to the roller, means positioned to sup-A port one wall of the tubular article in contact with the roller and means for stretching the inner wall of the article at the point of contact of the roller.

2. A device for printing tubular articles comprising a rotatable printing roller, means for applying ink to the roller and means supporting longitudinally one wall of the tubular article in contact with and transversely of the roller, the supporting means including a cylindrical mandrel over which the article is passed longitudinally by the rotating action of the printing roller.

3. A device for printing tubular articles comprising a mandrel supporting longitudinally one Wall of the article, a. recess in the supporting surface of the mandrel, a rotatable bearing roller mounted transversely of the mandrel in the recess, a rotatable printing roller mounted in contactable relation with the bearing roller, means for rotating the printing roller and means for applying ink to the printing roller, the,article being longitudinally moved between the several rollers by the rotating action of the printing roller against the bearing roller.

4. A device for printing tubular articles comprising a mandrel supporting longitudinally one wall of the article, a recess in the supporting surface of the mandrel, a rotatable bearing roller mounted in the recess, a rotatable printing roller mounted transversely of the mandrel and in contactable relation with the bearing roller, means for rotating the printing roller and means for applying ink to the printing roller, the article being longitudinally moved between the several rollers by the rotating action of the printing roller against the bearing roller, the mandrel providing a flat surface adjacent the point of contact between the several rollers.

5. A device for printing tubular articles comprising a mandrel supporting one Wall of the article, a recess in the supporting surface of the mandrel, a rotatable bearing roller mounted in the recess, a rotatable printing roller mounted in contactable relation with the bearing roller, means for rotating the printing roller, means for applying ink to the printing roller, the several rollers by the rotating action of the printing roller against the bearing roller and means for stretching the inner Wall of the tubular article while being moved between the several rollers.

6. A device for printing tubular articles cornprising a mandrel supporting one wall of the article, a recess in the supporting surface of the mandrel, a rotatable bearing roller mounted in the recess, a rotatable printing roller mounted in contactable relation with the bearing roller, means for rotating the printing roller, means for applying ink to the printing roller, the article being longitudinally moved between the several rollers by the rotating action of the printing roller against the bearing roller and means including clusters of bristles secured against the under surface of the mandrel for stretching the inner wall of the tubular article while being moved between the several rollers.

7. A device for printing tubular articles comprising a mandrel supporting one Wall of the article, a recess in the supporting surface of the mandrel, a rotatable bearing roller mounted in the recess, a rotatable printing roller mounted in contactable relation with the bearing roller, means for rotating the printing roller, meansfor being longitudinally moved between the several rollers by the rotating action of the printing roller against the bearing roller and means for adjustably tensioning the contacting pressure between the several rollers.

8. A device for printing tubular articles comprising a mandrel supporting one wall of the article, a recess in -the supporting surface of the mandrel, a rotatable bearing roller mounted in the recess, a rotatable printing roller pivotally mounteda'for movement from and toward and in contactable relation with the bearing roller, means for controlling the contacting pressure between the several rollers, means for rotating the printing roller and means for applying ink to the printing roller, the article being moved longitudinally between the several rollers by the rotating action of the printing roller against the bearing roller.

9. A device for printing tubular articles comprising a mandrel supporting the inner wall of the article, a recess in the supporting surface of the mandrel, a rotatable bearing roller mounted in the recess, a rotatable printing roller mounted for movement from and toward and in contactable relation with the bearing roller, means including a counterbalance for adjustably controlling the tension between the several rollers, means for rotating the printing roller and means for applying ink to the printing roller, the article being longitudinally moved between the several rollers by the rotating action of the printing roller against the bearing roller.

10. A device for printing tubular articles shaped in the form of a helix comprising a rotatable printing roller, means for applying ink to the roller and means including a curved mandrel for supporting internally and longitudinally one Wall of the article relative to the roller.

l1. A device for printing tubular articles shaped in the form of a helix comprising a rotatable printing roller, means for applying ink to the roller, means including a curved mandrel for supporting one wall of the article in Contact with the roller and means for stretching the inner wall of the article to the point of contact with the roller.

12. In a printing device comprising a supporting mandrel having a recess in the surface thereof,

`a bearing roller having an' outer surface of resilient material and annularly flanged at its outer peripheral edges providing bearing surfaces mounted in the recess relative to the surface of the mandrel and a printing roller mounted in contactable relation with the bearing roller, the printing roller having a central printing band rotatable relative to the resilient surface of the bearing roller and annularly flanged at its outer peripheral edges to provide bearing surfaces rotatable relative to the bearing surfaces of the bearing roller.

13. In a device for printing longitudinally of the outerwall of a exible tube, means positioned to support the inner wall of the tube longitudinally, a rotatable printing roller positioned transversely of the supporting means and contactable with the cuter wall of the supported tube, and means distending the tube transversely at the point of contact with the printing roller, the printing roller being adapted to move the tube longitudinally on the supporting means during printing of the outer wall of the tube.

14. In a device for printing longitudinally of the outer wall of a exible tube, means supporting the inner wall of the tube longitudinally, a rotatable printing roller contactable with the outer wall of the supported tube, and means distending the tube transversely atethe point of contact with the printing roller comprising bristle clusters extending from the surface of the supporting means, the printing roller being adapted to move the tube longitudinally on the supporting means during printing of the outer wall of the tube.

15. In a device for printing longitudinally oi the outer wall of 'a exible tube of helical formation, a curved mandrel supporting the inner wall of the tube longitudinally and a rotatable printing roller contactable with the outer wall of the supported tube, the printing roller being adapted to move the tube longitudinally of the supporting means during printing of the outer wall of the tube.

16. In a device for printing longitudinally of the outer wall of a flexible tube of helical formation, a curved mandrel supporting the inner wall of the tube longitudinally, a rotatable printing roller contactable with the outer wall of the supported tube, the printing roller being adapted to move the tube longitudinally of the supporting means during printing of the outer wall of the tube, and means distending the tube transversely at the point of contact with the printing roller.

17. In. a device for printing longitudinally of the outer Wall of a tube, means supporting the inner Wall of the tube longitudinally and a rotatable printing roller having its axis positioned transversely of the supporting means, the printing roller being contactable with the outer wall of the supported tube and being adapted to move the tube longitudinally on the supporting means during printing of the outer wall of the tube.

HEINRICH ERNST HAASE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

parent No. 2,1m, 550. February 28, 41959.

HEINRICH ERNST HAASE.-

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 11,9, claim 5, before the article "the" second occurrence, insert the words thearticle being longitudinally moved between; and that the said Letters Patent shouldbe read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of April, A. D. 1959.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patentsz.

Images