US2261255A

US2261255A - Decorating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2261255A
Application number: US303424A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert S Jackson
Original assignee: Owens Illinois Glass Co
Current assignee: OI Glass Inc
Priority date: 1939-11-08
Filing date: 1939-11-08
Publication date: 1941-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 1958-11-04

Description

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Patented. Nov. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE,

DECORATING APPARATUS Albert S. Jackson, Wood River, 111., assignor to Company, a corporation Owens-Illinois Glass of Ohio Application November 8, 1939, Serial No. 303,424

Claims.

My invention relates to-apparatus for decorat-' ing the surfaces of bottles and other articles and color designs or decorations by a screen process in which the coloring or decoratingmaterials are applied to the surface of th article as by stencillingthrough a screen or the like.

An object of my invention is to provide an im-' proved apparatus which is designed for simultaneously applying decorations to differentsurface portions of the article having different diameters, as, for example, the-body and shoulder or neck portions of a bottle of conventional form.

A further object of the invention is to provide ,novel means to effect rolling contact between the article and the screens by which the latter are caused to advance simultaneously along the surfaces to be decorated at dififerent rates, corresponding to the peripheral speeds at which the respectiv surfaces are being rotated.

A further feature of the invention relatesto adjusting andindicating mechanisms by which the apparatus may be adjusted for operation with in its preferred form is adapted for applying riage and means for periodically lifting and holding the squeegees in an inoperative position; and

Fig. 11 is a section at the line l|| I on Fig. 10, showing an electromagnetic device for holding the decorating means in an inoperative position .when an empty cradle is presented at the decoing the articles to positioning stations where they articles of difierent dimensions and by which the required adjustments may be made and deter- A further feature ofthe invention relates to novel mechanism for automatically holding the decorating devices in an inoperative position when an article is missing so that an empty cradie is presented at thedecorating station.

Other objects of the invention will appear herelnafter.

Referring'to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of apparatus embodying the present invention; g

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation, the sectionbeing taken at a decorating station;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation I showing the decorating apparatus during a decorating operation;

- Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the apparatus adJusted for operation on a comparatively small article;

' Fig. 6 is a part sectional elevation of thedecorating devices and manual means for lifting them to an inoperative position;

'7 is a fragmentary plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6; a

Fig. 8 is a section at the line 88 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a section on a larger scale at the line 9- 9 on ig. '1;

. :;.,Fig,.10 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing a portion of the decorating screen car- 55 by step, thereby bringing the bottles, in sucmined in advance of the decorating operations.

are first rotated to a predetermined position, thereby determiningitheposition at which the decoration is applied; the articles being thereafter rotated at a decorating station or stations during the decorating operations. In said apparatus the decorations are applied to the cylindrical body portion of the bottles.

The present invention is shown inan appa- "ratus which in many respects is substantially identical with that disclosed in said copending application. The present invention comprises modifications and additions by which the shoulders of the bottles may be decorated at the same time as'the body portions and to this end provides decorating'means to engage simultaneously the body and shoulder surfaces of the rotating bottle The decorating screens move over said surfaces at speeds substantially equal to the peripheral speeds of the surfaces, said speeds being proportional to the diameters' of the said body and shoulder respectively.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the

apparatus comprises a framework 20 including a hollow base within which is mounted a contin- ;,uously running electric motor 2| connected through suitable driving means for operating the .various parts of the apparatus. The articles which are to be decorated, herein shown as bottles B of conventional form, are deposited on cradles 22 on an endless conveyor comprising parallel sprocket chains '23 trained over sprocket wheels at opposite ends of the conveyor frame 24 mountedon or forming a part ofthe framework 20. The conveyor is driven by the motor 2i 4 through mechanism by which it is advanced step cession to the adjusting and decorating stations. These include a station C at which the bottles are rotatively adjusted preliminary to the decorating operation, and a decorating station D at which the color decorations are applied.

The means for driving the cradle conveyor includes a shaft (Fig. 2) continuously driven by the motor 2| through suitable driving connections (not shown). has connected thereto a head 21 which may be adjustable lengthwise of the arm 25, said head carrying a cam roll running on a stationary cam track 28. A connecting rod 29 connects the head 21 with a connector frame 30 by which an operative connection with the cradle conveyor is effected. The construction is such that the conveyor is advanced step by step, being held stationary during the operations of adjusting and decorating the bottles. As the preferred means for driving the cradle conveyor is the same as that disclosed in the above mentioned Patent 2,231,535 and does not in itself form a part of the present invention, a. more detailed illustration thereof is not deemed necessary herein.

The cradles 22 are supported on cross-bars 3i which are arranged at intervals along the conveyor and connected at their ends to the conveyor chains. Each cradle comprises a bar 32 overlying the supporting bar 3i and connected thereto by a pivot33 near the inner endof the cradle,

permitting the cradle to swing up and down for the purpose of receiving and discharging the bottles. The cradle also includes a bar 34 overlying the bar 32 and removably attached thereto, permitting thesubstitution of other cradles corresponding to the size and shape of the particular article which is to be carried thereby.

The positioning means for holding and rotating the bottles to a predetermined position preliminary to the decorating operation will now be described. Mechanism for this purpose is illustrated particularlyas used at the station D. It is to be understood, however, that if desired, substantially identical mechanism may be provided at the station C for giving the articles any further preliminary rotation that may be needed for accurate adjustment, as more fully set forth in the aforementioned Patent 2,231,535. The mechanism for holding and rotating a bottle at the station D comprises a chuck 35 for engaging the base of the bottle and a holding device 35 for holding the bottle against the chuck. .The holding device includes a head chuck or center 31 carried on an arm 38 on a slide block 39 mounted to reciprocate in guides formed on an arm 40 mounted on the conveyor frame 25 and projecting forwardly therefrom.

The mechanism for reciprocating the slide blocks at the stations C and D includes a cam 4| (Figs. 1 and 3) formed on the periphery of a cam disk 42 carried on a shaft 55 by which the cam disk is rotated continuously. The shaft 43 .is driven from the motor 2 l the driving connections including a chain drive 54 and speed reduction gearing within a gear box 45. The cm I actiiates a bell crank 45 (Fig. 1) connected through a rod 41 (Figs. 1 and 2) to a rock arm 45 fixed to a rock shaft 59. The rock shaft operates through rock arms and links 5| (see Fig. 3) to recipro cate the slide blocks 35 and the head chucks 31 carried thereby.

When the cradle conveyor has been brought to rest after each step movement, the cam 4i operates the chucks to grip the bottles at the stations C and D. The chuck at the station A crank arm 25 on the shaft 25 intermittently rotated by power supplied through the shaft 43 operating through driving mechanism including bevel gears 52, a sprocket chain 53 and afriction clutch 54. The clutch comprises a clutch member or disk continuously rotated by the chain 53 and loosely mounted on a shaft 55 carrying the chuck 35. The clutch' includes a friction disk fixed to the shaft 55 and movable into and out of driving contact with the first mentioned clutch member by lengthwise move ment of theshaft 55. The clutch is under the control of an electromagnet 55 which, when energized, operates through a bell crank 51 and a lever 58 to move the shaft 55 lengthwise and bring the clutch members into driving engagement whereby the chuck and the bottle held thereby are rotated. When the bottle has been brought thus to the desired rotative position for receiving the color decoration, the electromagnet is deenergized (by means not shown), thereby releasing the clutch and stopping rotation of the bottle. During this rotative adjustment of the battle the decorating screens are held in an inoperative position.

The decorating mechanism is supported on an I-beam positioned above and in rear of the cradle conveyor, said beam being supported on standards 5| rising from a platform 52 mounted onthe framework 20. The decoratingmeans includes a screen 53 (see Figs. 1 and 4) herein referred to as the body screen, and the squeegee 54 cooperating therewith, for decorating the cylindrical body surface of the bottle. The screen is mounted on a screen frame which may be of conventional construction. A shoulder screen 55, mounted on a screen frame 61, and a cooperating squeegee 55 are provided for decorating the shoulder or neck portion of the bottle. The screen frame 55 is carried on arms 59 at opposite ends of said frame. The frame is adjustable forwardly and rearwardly in said arms, having a slidable connection therewith. The connection between each arm 89 and the screen frame (see Figs. '7 and Qlincludes a slide block Ii formed with a guide rail 12 slidably mounted in the arm '59 which comprises sections formed with a dove tailed groove to receive the rail 12. A clamping bolt 13 clamps the slide block II in adjusted p051- tion. The screen frame also has an adjustable connection with the slide block including an adlusting screw 14 journalled in the block and connected to a tab I5 on the end of the screen frame. A wing nut 15 clamps the tab to hold the frame in its adjusted position.

The arms 55 are formed at their rear ends with vertical extensions or bars 11 which aremovable up and down in guideways formed on supporting brackets 15. The arms 55 with the extension bars 11 provide a carriage for the screen which is vertically adjustable as hereinafter described.

The brackets 15' are secured to the under surface of a slide plate ll directly beneath the I-beam 50' and extending lengthwise thereof. The plate on the cam plate 42. A vertical i n is rock shaft ii journalled m helarinm: M the ut.

form 82, carries a rock arm 82 atits lower end on which is a cam roll running on the cam 88. An arm 83 attached to the rock shaft 8| and extending forwardly therefrom is operatively connected to the slide plate 19 by means of a channel bar. 84 fixed to the lower side of the slide plate and extending horizontally at right angles to said plate. An adjusting block 85 is adjustably mounted in a channel formed in-the arm 83 for movement lengthwise .of said arm. 'Such a'djustment is efiectedby a screw 86 joumalled in the arm 83 and threaded through the block 85,

said screw being operated by a hand wheel 81.- The block 85 carries a roll 88 which runs in the channel'bar 84.

The cam .88 is so designed that themovement transmitted therefrom through the rock shaft 8| and arm 83 will cause theslide plate 19 and screen carried thereby to advance at the same surface speed as the cylindrical surface of the bottle B during the decorating operation. It will be noted that the means for rotating the. chuck and bottle are intereonnectedwith the means for reciprocating the decorating screen, the motion being transmitted to both said parts from the shaft 43. As the surface speed at which the bottle is rotated 'is proportional to the diameter of the bottle, the speed of the screen must be correspondingly adjusted when bottles of a different diameter are to be decorated, suchadjustment being effected by rotating thelhand wheel 81 and] thereby adjusting theeffective length of the rock arm 83.

The shoulder screen frame 61 is carried at the forward ends of arms 98 formed on and projecting forward from vertical -rack bars 9|, said arms and rack bar's-providing a carriage for the screen frame. The arms 98 as shown compriseiele scopic sections permitting the screen to be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly, the position of t adjustment being indicated by a scale 98 v(F'ig'.

6). The rack bars 9| are mounted to slide up and down in 'guideways formed in vertical posts or standards 92 integral with or attached to the ends of horizontal frame pieces or bars 93. The bars 93 slidably embrace the upper and lower sides of a channel-shaped guide bar 94 extending lengthwise of the machine and connected as by means of rivets 95 (Fig. 2) to the vertical bars 11 of the body screen carriage. .There is thus provided a sliding connection between the posts 92 and the bar 98 permitting the shoulder screen to be reciprocated horizontally relative to the body screen. A tubular rod 98 extends horizontally between the rack bars 9| and is rigidly connected at its ends to said bars.

The screen frames are adjustable up and down by means of a hand wheel 9"! on an adjusting said-rack bar. The up and down movement of .said rack bar is transmitted to the other rack bar through a shaft I82 (see Figs. 1 and 4) formed with rack teeth engaging said rack bars. The shoulder screen is caused to travel along .the shoulder of the bottle during the decorating operation by motion-transmitting mechanism substantially like thatabove described in connection with the body screen. Such mechanism for drivingthe shoulder screen includes an arm the I-beam 88 for reciprocation lengthwise thereof. The channel bar I88 is fixed to the plate I84 and has slidably supported therein a connector block I88, pivotally-connected. to a slide block I81 adjustable lengthwise in the arm I83 by means of an adjusting screw I88 and hand wheel I89. The.

speed of the shoulder screen is adjusted relative to that of the body screen by means ofthe hand wheel I89, to correspond to the diameter of the surface to which the shoulder decoration is being applied.

screw 98 threaded through an adjusting block 99 Having a fixed connection with the frame bars 93. The lower end of the screw 98 bears on the forward end of a channel bar I88 which thus supports the weight of the screen frames. By I rotating the hand wheel 91 in one direction the screen frames are adjusted upwardly as may be (6 required for decorating a bottle of comparatively large diameter-(Fig. 4). Rotation of the hand wheel'91 in the opposite direction permits the frames to move. downward by gravity, thereby adlusting them for a comparatively small bottle (Fig. 5). The shoulder screen frame isadjustable relative to the body screen frame by means 'of an adjusting screw I8I (Fig. 2) whichQhas a threaded-connection with one of the rack bars 9l so that rotation of said screw raises or lowers Referring'to Fig. l0,-a scale plate II8 mounted I on the beam 68 is provided with scale markings along its upper margin over which is a pointer III carried on the bar 94. The position of the pointer III on the scale when the shoulder screen frame has been moved to the limit of its movement in either direction indicates the shoulder diameter for which the mechanism is set.-- For example, if itis desired to decorate a' compare tively large bottle, as shown in Fig: 4, the mean. diameter of the shoulder portion to which the decoration is to be applied being, for example, two and three-fourths inches. the hand wheel I89 is adjusted to bring the pointer III tothe position shown indicating a shoulder diametr of two and three-fourths inches. If abottle of.

small shoulder diameter, for example, one and one-fourth inches, is to be decorated, adjustment will be made to bring the' pointer III to the broken line position Ili indicating one and onefourth inches diameter. The scale plate is provided along its lower margin with scale markings cooperating with a pointer II2 for indicating adjustments for the body screen frame. These scale markings are likewise calibrated to indicate the body diameterin inches. The point- .er 2 is carried with thebody screen frame."

It is sometimes [desirable to lift the screens and hold them in an elevated position. Mecha nism for this purp se is illustrated in Figs. 1.2-, 6, 7 and 8. .Such mechanism includes a hand lever II3 mounted to swing about the axis of a shaft II4 journalled' in a bearing sleeve H5 formed on a bracket H6 attached to the bracket 18. Keyed to the inner end of the shaft Ill ,is

a gear wheel II1 which meshes with a pinion H8 on one errd of a shaft 9- Pinions I28 also secured to'the shaft 9, engage rack teeth I2I (Fig. 6) formed on the bars 11.

Mounted on the hand lever 3 for movement lengthwise thereof is a rod I22 carrying at its inner end a head I23 normally'heldin its lowered .position under the tension'of a coil spring I2lmounted on said rod. A pawl |25 pivotally mounted on the lever-I I3 is adapted to engage a ratchet wheel I26 on the shaftv IIL. A lug I21 on the head I23. carries a stop screw I28 which engages, the pawl and normally holds it out of contact with theratchet wheeL. when the operator desiresto lift the screen frames he grasps the handle of the lever H3 and a finger-piece I tion. The body squeegee 64 is also mounted for ad about a stationary fulcrum I52. One levercarries a cam roll I53 running on a cam I33 for lifting the latter under the influence of I 75 on the rod I22 and pulls said rod upward against the tension of the spring I24, thereby releasing the pawl and permitting it to move into engagement with the ratchet under the influence of a spring I29 (Fig. 6). He then swings the lever forward and downward to the broken line position (Fig. 6). This movement of the lever operates through the shaft II4, gears H1, H8, I20, and rack bars 11 to lift the sdreen frames. The hand lever is held in its forward position by means of a lug on the head I23 engaging a notch I30 (Fig. 6) formed in the bearing sleeve II5. The notch- I30 is comparatively shallow so that the head I23 does not move inwardly a sufficient distance to release the pawl I25. The screen frames are therefore held in their lifted position.

The squeegees 64 and 68 are carried on a horizontally disposed frame or arm I3I (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) connected by a pivot pin I32 to a slide block I33 mounted for vertical sliding movement in guideways formed in a bracket I34 which is bolted to the I-beam 60.

Referring to Fig- 5, the shoulder screen frame 61 is loosely connected by a pivot pin I35 t a vertically disposed arm I36. The screenframe may have a limited rocking movement about the lower pointed end I31 of the arm I36, permitting the frame to adjust itself to the particular angle of the surface which is being decorated, The arm I35 is fulcrumed at I38 on a second arm which in turn is pivoted at I 39 to a vertically disposed slide block I40 adjustable vup and down on the frame I3I, such adjustment being effected by a hand operated screw MI. The slide I40 is also adjustable lengthwise of the arm I3I and for this purpose is mounted in a slide block I42 slidable lengthwise on the arm I3I and clamped in adjusted position by a nut I43 (Fig. 4)., A coil spring I44 mounted in the slide I40 serves to hold the squeegee downward with a yielding pressure against the screen during the decorating operajustment lengthwise of the arm I3I and for vertical adjustment substantially in the same manner as the shoulder squeegee. The squeegee frame, may be swung upward by hand about its pivot I32 to the broken line position shown in Fig. 5 and held in such position by a dog I45 engaging a notch in a holding rack I 48. Said dog is carried by a rod I41 held in locking position by a spring I40 and adapted to be withdrawn by a handle I49. The arm I3I is also held in its lowered position by said dog I45 engaging a lower notch in the rack I46.

Referringto Figs. 4 and 5 the slide I33 which carries the squeegee arm has a limited up and down movement in the bracket I34 as before noted and is yieldingly held in its lowered position by a coil spring I50. While held in this position the squeegees bear against the decorating screens and function in the usual manner to force the decorating material through the screens during the decorating operation. During the intervals between such operations the slide I 33 is held in an upward position in which the squeegees are lifted away from the screens. Referring to Fig. I the means for lifting the squeegee arm includes a bell crank lever II- mounted to swing rm of the I04 mounted on the shaft 25. The other arm of the bell crank lever projects beneath the slide If an empty cradle is presented at the decorating station the squeegee arm is automatically retained in its lifted position during the decorating period. Means for this purpose comprises an electromagnet I (Fig. 11), the solenoid of which is connected to a stop block I56 slidable in a supporting bracket I51 on which the electromagnet is mounted. When the magnet is energized the stop block I 56 is moved to the right as shown in full lines in Fig. 11 in which position it engages beneath a lug I58 on the bell crank I 5|, thereby holding the squeegee arm in its lifted position. The electromagnet remains deenergized during normal operations and is held in the retracted position out of the path of the bell crank by a coil spring I59. The electromagnet is under the control of a switch mechanism within a switch box I60 (Fig. 3). This comprises a switch operated by the. head chuck 31 (as more fully set forth in said copending application) to close the switch and actuate the holding device (Fig. 11) when an empty cradle is presented at the decorating station.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for decorating a round bottle or the like comprising a chuck for holding the bottle, a motor, driving mechanism by which motion is transmitted from the motor to the chuck for rotating the latter, decorating devices for applying decorations to the cylindrical body and the shoulder of the bottle respectively, means for causing said decorating devices to travel in rolling contact with the rotating bottle, comprising a cam driven by the motor, a rock shaft actuated by said cam, rock arms connected to said rock sh'aft, reciprocating elements carrying said decorating devices respectively, and operating connections between said rock arms and said elements for reciprocating the latter at speeds corresponding to the peripheral speeds of said body and shoulder surfaces.

2. Apparatus for decorating a round bottle or the like comprising a chuck for holding the bottle, a motor, driving mechanism by which motion is, transmitted from the motor to the chuck for rotating the latter, decorating devices for applying decorations to the cylindrical body and the shoulder of the bottle respectively, means for causing said decorating devices to travel in rolling contact with the rotating bottle, comprising a cam driven by the motor, a rock shaft actuated by said cam, rock arms connected to said rock shaft, reciprocating elements carrying said decorating devices respectively, operating connections between said rock arms and said elements for reciprocating the latter at speeds corresponding to the peripheralspeeds of said body and. shoulder surfaces, and adjusting means individual to said rock arms for adjusting the effective length of said arms and thereby adjusting the speed at whichsaid elements are driven to correspond to the diameters of the surfaces to be decorated.

3. Apparatus for decorating bottles or the like comprising a chuck for holding the bottles, a motor, driving connections between the motor and said chuck, decorating devices each comprising a screen frame and screen, one of said screens positioned to engage the cylindrical body surface of the bottle, the other positioned to engage the shoulder surface of the bottle, and means for reciprocating said frames and causing the screens to advance while in rolling contact with the botand said chuck, decoratingdevices each comprising a screen frame and screen, one of said screens positioned to engage the cylindrical body surface of the bottle, the other positioned to engage the shoulder surface of the bottle, and means for reciprocating said frames and causing the screens to advance while in rolling contact with the bot-. tle 'at speeds corresponding to the peripheral speeds of the said surfaces, said means for advancing the screens comprising a cam driven by said motor, a rock shaft rocked by said cam, rock arms connected to the rock shaft, slide plates connected respectively to the screen frames, driving elements connected to said rock arms and having driving connections respectively with said slide plates, and means for adjusting said driving elements lengthwise of said arms and. thereby adjusting the speeds at which said slide plates are moved.

5. Apparatus for decorating bottles or thelike comprising a, chuck for holding the bottles, a motor, driving connections between the motor and said chuck, decorating devices each comprisin a screen frame and screen, one of said screens positioned to engage the cylindrical body surface bination, a squeegee, a support on which the of the bottle, the other positioned to engage the shoulder surface of the bottle, means for reciprocating said frames and causing the screens to advance While in rolling contact with the bottle at speeds corresponding to the peripheral. speeds of the said surfaces, said means for advancing the screens comprising a cam driven by said motor, a rock shaft rocked by said cam, rock arms connected to the rock shaft, slide plates connected respectively to the screen frames, driving elements connected to said rock arms and having driving connections respectively with said slide plates, and means for adjusting said driving elements lengthwise of said arms and tliereby adjusting the speeds at which said slide plates are moved, and indicating means to indicate adlustments corresponding to thediameters of thebottie at the surfaces to be decorated. i

6. The combination of a decorating screen, a

carriage on which the screen issupported, meansfor reciprocating the carriage, and carriage lifting mechanism mounted to reciprocatewith the carriage for manually lifting the carriage for actuating said stop.

and screen and holding them in an inoperative position, said mechanism including a hand lever, a gear train operatively connecting the lever to the carriage, and a locking device to hold the carriage in its lifted position.

7. The combination of a decorating screen, a carriage on which the screen is supported, means for reciprocating the carriage, and means mounted to reciprocate with the carriage for,

manually lifting the carriage and screen and holding them in an inoperative position, said lifting and holding means including a hand lever, a pawl and ratchet wheel actuated by said lever,

gearing including a shaft rotated by the pawl and ratchet wheel and driving connections between said shaft and the carriage, including a vertical rack connected to the carriage and a pinion driving said rack.-

v8. Decorating apparatus comprising, incombination, a squeegee, a support on which the squeegee is mounted, automatic means for lowering and lifting said support and squeegee for moving the squeegee into and. out of operative relation to an article to be decorated, a stop movable into position to prevent the lowering of the squeegee, and means operable automatically in the absence of an article from the decorating position to move the stop intosaid posi- 1 tion.

9. Decorating apparatus comprising, in comsqueegee is mounted, automatic means for lowering and lifting said support and squeegee'for moving the squeegee into and out of operative relation to an article to be decorated, and automatic means to prevent the lowering of the squeegee in the absence of an article from the decorating position, said lifting means including a lifting arm, said preventing means comprising a stop movable into and out of the path of the lifting arm, an electro-responsive meanscontrolled by an article at the decorating station 10. Decorating apparatus comprising a squeegee, a support on which the squeegee is mounted,

means for bringing articles in succession to a decorating station with the article positioned beneath the squeegee, automatic means for periodically lifting said support and the squee gee to an inoperative position including a cam, a lever actuated by the cam and comprising an arm projecting into the path of the squeegee support, a stop movable into and out of a holding position beneath said arm in which it holds the squeegee lifted out of operative posi-- 'tion, and electro-responsive means for moving said stop into operative -position upon failure of an article'to be presented at the decorating station. I

ALBERT S. JACKSON.