US2231553A

US2231553A - Stenciling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2231553A
Application number: US196401A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leonard D Soubier
Original assignee: Owens Illinois Glass Co
Current assignee: OI Glass Inc
Priority date: 1938-03-17
Filing date: 1938-03-17
Publication date: 1941-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 1958-02-11

Description

Feb. 11, 1941. D. souslzn STENCILING APPARATUS Filed March 17, I938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. L.D- Soubier,

BY Y

0 T/ v 4, 7E r 5 A TTO Patented Feb. 11, 19.41

STENCILIN G APPARATUS Leonard D. Soubier, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Owens-Illinois Glass. Company, a corporation of Ohio Application March 17, 1938, Serial N... 196,40

8 Claims.

The present invention relates toimprovements in stenciling' apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for decorating, lettering, or otherwise marking the opposite sides of bottles or like articles having flat sides. The principal object of the invention is to provide a stenciling apparatus which is fully automatic in its operation; which will receive the bottles or other articles in a receiving zone; orient w the same 'for decorative contact of one face thereof with a stencil screen positioned in a decorating zone; convey the same, properly oriented, through said, zone; orient the partially decorated bottles for decorative contact of the opposite face thereof with a stencil screen positioned in a second decorating zone; convey the same, properly oriented, through the second decorating zone; and finally convey the fully decorated bottles to an article removal zone for removal from the apparatus.

Another object of the invention, in an apparatus of the character set forth above, is to provide a novel and effective means for orienting the bottles received .thereby prior to presentation thereof at the first decorating station.

Another object of the invention, in such an apparatus, is to provide a novel and effective means for orienting the bottles undergoing decor ation between decorating operations. A further object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus in which there is incorporated a novel form of stencil screen construction by means of which the decorations applied' to the opposite faces of the bottles are uniformly centered thereon.

Other objects of the invention, not at this time particularly enumerated, will become apparent hereinafter.

In the accompany n drawings:

Fig.1 is a side elevational view of a stenciling apparatus manufactured in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2- 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially pairs of front and rear standards i6 and I1 respectively. The conveyor I0 is driven by a 10 motor M to which driving connection is effected by a chain ill or like element.

The conveyor l0 carries a series of article holding units l9 which are adapted to support botles B or other similar articles to be decorated in 15 succession beneath a pair of stencil screens S and S, the latter being arranged in series above the conveyor. Supporting rails 20 and 2i (see also Fig. 2) are supported at theirtrear ends from the standards I! by means of a pair of sim- 20 ilar brackets, one of which is shown at 22. The front ends of the rails 20 and 2| are supported from the standards l6 by means of

brackets

23 and 24 respectively. The rails 20 and 2| and various supporting brackets all comprise a part 25 of the stationary framework of the apparatus. The rails 20 and 2| assist in supporting the weight of the article holding units 19 which pass thereover.

' tation to and decorative cooperation with the stencil screen S in the first decorating zone. In passing from thefirst decorating zone Z to the second decorating zone 2, a second orienting mechanism 0 positioned in the path of movement of the units 19 is designed for successive cooperation therewith to invert the bottles B and present the other face thereof to the stencil screen S for decorative cooperation therewith. 45

Toward these ends, each article holding unit l9 (Fig. 2) comprises an elongated frame 30 positioned outside of the endless surface of the conveyor Ill, and connected to and supported by adjacent conveyor links 3| by means of a pair of conveyor pintles 32. Rollers 25 mounted on the ends of the pintles 32 serve to tractionally support the frame 30 on the supporting rails 20 and 2! The frame of each holding unit It carries a a pair of cooperating chucks which are disposed at opposite sides of the conveyor ill. The head chuck 33 is mountedupon a slide 34 and includes an elastic cup 35 mounted upon a holder 38 which in turn is supported by a short shaft 31. The shaft 31 is mounted for rotation in a bearing 38 provided on the slide 34. A coil spring 40, connecting the inner end of the slide 34 and the frame 30, tends to move the entire head chuck assembly 33 to its' innermost article-engaging position with the neck portion of the bottle B nested within the elastic cup 35.

' A base chuck 4| supported at the opposite end of the frame 30'cooperates with the head chuck 33 in supporting the bottle B in position for decoration thereof. Toward this end, the base chuck 4| includes a rotaryhead 42 carrying a block or pad 43 of rubber or like material having acavity 44 formed therein conforming substantially to the rectangular shape of the base of the bottle B. The head 42 includes a short horizontal shaft 45 journalled in a bearing 46 which constitutes an integral part of the frame 30. A disk 41 which is secured to the shaft 45 is provided with a projecting eccentric pip 39 designed for cooperation with the orienting mechanism 0 while the disk itself is designed for cooperation with the orienting mechanism 0 in a manner and for a purpose subsequently to be described.

The head 42 is cylindrical in form and is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed-depressions d (Fig. 4) each of which has a relative- 1y sharply inclined side 28 and a relatively gradually inclined side 48. A spring pressed holding detent 49 which is slidably guided in a socket 55 provided in a bracket 5| formed on the frame 30 and which overlies the head 42, bears against the cylindrical side of the head and is adapted to successively enter the depressions (1 upon successive reversals of the base chuck 4|.

, Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the article receiving zone is designated at Z and is situated at the forward end of the conveyor Ill while the article removal zone Z is situated at the rear end thereof. 1 In placing the bottles in position on the article holding units l9 between the head chuck 33 and base chuck 4|, the loading operator stationed at the receiving zone Z engages the head chuck 33 with the neck of a bottle B and causes the slide 34 to be moved outwardly to permit thebase of the bottle to clear the base chuck 4| for positioning thereon. need not be concerned with the angular position of the individual base chucks, either at the time the empty chucks an-ive in the receiving zone Z,

, chucks 4| that one flat face of the bottle carried rthereby assumes a horizontal position for presen- The loading operator tion strip 54 until such time as the holding de- I! past the orienting mechanism 0 the disk 41 slides or skids'on the friction strip 54. With the detent 48 in holding engagement with the head 42 in the manner just described, one surface of the bottle B supported in the base chuck 4| assumes a horizontal position after it has rounded the forward end of the conveyor and thus the bottle 13 becomes properly oriented for decorating cooperation with the stencil screen S in the first decorating zone Z Inasmuch as the depressions d formed in the periphery of the head 42 are diametrically opposed to each other, and in view of the fact that the pin 39 which is eccentricaily disposed on the disk 47 lies on the same axial plane as the plane of the'depressions d, the pin 39 assumes its uppermost position on the disk 41 and remains in such position during the first decorating operation while the holder 9 passes through the decorating zone Z Each bottle B carried by a holder I9 is adapted to be reversed in passing from the first decorating zone Z to the second decorating zone Z and accordingly, the orienting mechanism 0 comes into cooperation with the pin 39 which is eccentricaily mounted on the disk 41. The orienting mechanism 0 comprises a yertically disposed plate 85 secured to the rail 2| and having a. rearwardly and downwardly inclined cam strip 66 projecting laterally therefrom. The cam strip '68 is disposed in the path of movement of the pin 39 and is adapted to be contacted successively thereby in passing, thus causing the disk 41 to be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 until such time as the pin 39 aschuck 4| is therefore reversed throughout an 3 angle of one hundred and eighty degrees and the bottle is reversed so that the decorated face thereof is turned downwardly while the undecorated face thereof is presented upwardly for proper presentation to the stencil screen S in the second decorating zone Z Still referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the two stencil screens S and S are of the cylindrical drum type and each is supported upon a cylindrical framelike structure including a front retaining ring 55 which is connected by means of ribs 56 to a circular plate 51 mounted upon a hub 58. The hub 58 is carried by a shaft 59 which is selectively and rotatably receivable in any one of a number of bearings 50 provided at different elevations on a standard 3| securedto the rail 2|; By proper selection of the bearings 60, compensation may be made for stencil screens of different diameters.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the ribs 56 are equally spaced about theinside of the drum-like screen S and S as'the case may be and each rib is provided with oppositely inclined surfaces 63 which converge inwardly toward a common apex 64.

The portions of the screen representing the design or designs to be applied to the fiat surfaces of the bottles are indicated in Fig. 3 by dimension lines and occur between adjacent ribs 56.

Each stencil screen has associated therewith a is adapted to be actuated with the screen the vided with a vertical extension 15 and the end of the squeegee arm 1i remote from the squeegee S is pivotally connected to the upper end thereof.

A coil spring 16 extending between the arm II and bracket 15 serves to normally maintain the squeegee in its lowermost position. The rod 13 by a cam member 11 which is supported for rotation on a horizontal shaft 18, the latter being rotatably supported between the

brackets

23 and 24.

In the case of the squeegee S which cooperates with the stencil screens S, the mounting for the extension 83 mounted on one squeegee S is similar to the mounting'just described. A separate pair of standards (Fig. 1) however are provided and serve to support therebetween a shaft 8| similar to the shaft I8. A 'cam member 82 is secured to the shaft 6! for cooperation with the actuating rod 13 for the In lieu of the bracket 23, an of the standards 88 serves to operatively support the various squeegee instrumentalities associated with the stencil screen S The conveyor, shaft i3 and the shaft'l8 are operatively connected together by means of a squeegee arm I l.

chain 90 which passes over sprockets 9| and 92 on the respective shafts. Similarly the shafts l8 and M are connected together by a chain 93 and sprockets 94 and 95. The diameters of and the number 'of teeth provided on the sprockets 94 and 95 are identical and thus the shafts I8 and 8 I rotate in unison.

of the decorating operation the decorating zone as the performance on the other face of The performance on one face of a bottle B at Z is substantially the same of the decorating operation the bottleat the zone Z former will sufflce for both. As previously stated,

each bottle issuing from the orienting mechanism O and rounding the forward end of the conveyor i0 approaches the stencil screen S with one face thereof presented upwardly for decorative contact with the screen. The cam member 11 is so designed and angularly positioned on the shaft 18 that, operating through the actuating rod 13, it serves to lower the squeegee S precisely as the upper face of a bottle B comes into contact with the stencil screen.- Referring now lowered shall not engage the screen and commence its decorative contact therewith, the ribs.

56 are so spaced about the periphery of the drumlike screen that the squeegee will come to rest thereupon successively each time the squeegee is lowered. In order to insure registry of the squeegee with successive ribs 56, a spring holding detent Ilil (Fig. designed to cooperate with a plurality of shallow recesses llll formed on the plate 51.

The screen S is adapted to be rotated by direct tractional engagement thereof with the face of abottle undergoing decoration. Consequently, as the bottle is moved beneath gee moves downwardly on the inclined surface 03 of the rib 58 (Fig. 3) and comes into decorative contact with the screen to force the coloring maand a description of the V to Fig. 3, in order that the squeegee immediately upon being the screen, the squeeteiialplaced The area in broken lines represents upwardly adjacent rib 56 and immediately thereafter cam member '8'! comesinto oper the squeegee to a position completely out tact with any portion Modifications may of the screen assembly. be resorted to within spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for applying decorations to the opposite sides of bottles, holding units each including a supporting a bottle, ing said units succes and first and second imparting a predete to the chucks prior to arrival th decorating zone,

chucks through an angl eighty degrees as the same proceed decoratingzone to 2. In an apparati the opposite sides of bottle holding units each supporting a bottle,

rotary chuck means and means for rotating traverses in performing etion of each decoon the next therein throu h the p rvious northe upwardly presented Fig. 6 existing the the

ation to elevate of conthe a plurality of bottle for for continuously movsively past a receiving zone decorating zones, means for rmined degree of angularity ereof at the first the e of one hundred and from the first the second decorating zone.

5 for applying decorations to s, a plurality of bottle including a rotary chuck for means for continuously moving said units successively past a receiving zone and first and secon detent carried by the other recess.

3. In an apparatus the opposite holding units supporting a bottle,

each

detent for maintaining d decorating zones, a spring unit, a pair of diametrically disposed recesses in each chuck designed for cooperation with said chuck in one of two positi between the receiving zone ing zone and in the chucks for engaging same to cause said detent to enter one of said 40 recesses, and means positioned between the first and second decorating ment of the chucks for engaging vrotating thesame to cause said detent to the ons, means positioned and the first decoratthe the zones in the path of movethe latter and enter for applying decorations to 45 sides of bottles, a plurality of bottle each including a rotary chuck for means for continuously moving said units successively past a receiving zone so and first and second decorating zones, 9. spring unit, a pair of diametri chuck designed detent carried by all for cooperation the chuck in one recesses on each with said detent for maintaining positions, means posi- 55 tioned between the receiving zone and the first decorating zoneand in the path of movement of the chucks for engaging the l each of two atter and rotating the same in one direction to cause said detent to' engage one of said recesses, between the first and second the path of movem ing the latter and and means positioned 60 decorating zones in cut of the chucks for engagrotatlng the same in the opposite direction to cause said detent to engage other recess.

,4. Inan apparatus for the opposite sides holding imits eachsupporting a bottle,

of bottles,

includin the applying decorations to a plurality of bottle a rotary chuck for means for continuously moving said units successively past a receiving zone and first and second decorating zones, maintaining each of said ngular positions means res apart, ceivlnz zone and chucks in either of one hundred and eighty positioned between the the first decorating zone means for two and 75 positioned in the path of movement of the chucks for engaging the latter and rotating the same in one direction to move the chucks to one position thereof, and means positioned between the 'flrst and second decorating zones in the path of movement of the chucks for engaging the latter and.

gress apart, means positioned between the re-- decorating zone and ceiving zone and the first positioned in the path of movement of the chucks for engaging the latter and rotating-the same'to move the chucks to one position thereof, and means positioned between the first and second decorating zones in the path of movement of the chucks for engaging the latter and rotating the same to move the chucks to the other position thereof.

6. In an apparatus for applying decorations to the sides of articles, a plurality of bottle holding units each including a rotary chuck for supporting a bottle, meansfor continuously moving said units successively past a receiving and first and second decorating zones, means for imparting a predetermined degree of angularity to the chucks prior to arrival thereof at the first decorating zone, a pin eccentrically disposed on each chuck, and a cam positioned in the path of movement of said pins between the first and decorating zones for successive engagement therewith to rotate the chucks-and apply a predetermined degree of angularity to the chucks prior to arrival of the same at the second decorating station.

7. In a stenciling apparatus, a cylindrical stencil screen mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, a plurality of ribs equally spaced about .the periphery of said screen on the inside thereof, said screen including pervious portions between the ribs, means for moving a series of articles to be decorated successively beneath said screen in decorative relationship thereto in tangential ro1ling line contact with the screen, the peripheral distance between adjacent ribs on said screen'being substantially equal to the extent of rolling contact between the screen and each article undergoing decoration, a squeegee disposed within the screen, means normally urging said squeegee into contact with the inside of the screen along the line of contact between the screen and surfaces of the articles undergoing decoration, and an inclined surface on each rib adapted to pass beneath the squeegee and elevate the same after the squeegee has traversed the distance between one rib and the next adjacent one on the screen.

8. In a stenciling apparatus, a cylindrical'stencil screen mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis. said screen having tions thereon representing spaced pervious pordesigns to be applied to a series of articles, means for moving a se-' ries of articles to be decorated successively beheath said screen in decorative relationship thereto in tangential rolling line contact with the screen whereby the screen is periodically rotated by such contact with the articles, and means for yieldingly holding the screen stationary between decorating operations.

IiEONARD D. SOUBIER.