US2288015A

US2288015A - Marking die

Info

Publication number: US2288015A
Application number: US299985A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold J Mumma
Original assignee: AHLBURG Co
Current assignee: AHLBURG Co
Priority date: 1939-10-18
Filing date: 1939-10-18
Publication date: 1942-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 1959-06-30

Description

June 30, 1942; H. J. MUMMA 2,288,015-

MARKING DIE Filed Oct. 18, 1939 ENTOR ATTORNFY Patented June 30, 1942 MARKING DIE Harold J. Mumma,

Glendale, Oalif., assignor t Ahlburg Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Californi Application October 18, 1939, Serial No. 299,985

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to making dies or stamps for forming ink impressions. More particularly it relates to a marking die applicable for the marking or branding of fruits such as oranges and lemons.

The conventional type of marking die makes use of raised characters, formed upon a die body or block, and which are periodically or intermittently inked by contact with inking devices such as ribbons, rolls, or pads. Such inking devices involve certain operating difficulties, aside from the necessary mechanism complications, particularly when the dies are utilized in automatic or semi-automatic machines, such as machines for applying markings or brands to fruit. It is an object of the present invention to provide a marking appliance which need not be inked by contact with such inking devices, and which can be maintained at all times in condition to apply a proper impression.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel type of marking die having provision whereby a supply of fluid ink is available at all times upon the marking surfaces of the die.

Additional objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating apparatus incorporating the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged plan details, showing the manner in which the ink feeding slits are formed.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail showing the manner in which slits are interrupted so that various portions of the die block are integrally retained together.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional detail, illustrating diagrammatically the manner in which fluid ink is supplied to the slits.

Referring to the apparatus illustrated in the drawing, I have shown a die block In made of suitable metal, and having its upper face provided with raised letters H. In place of letters it is evident that figures, insignia, or other characters, can be formed. To afiord a mounting for this block it is shown carried by an adapter block [2, which in turn is seated upon the mounting plate l3.

Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive illustrate the novel manner in which the block I0 is formed. Thus the elongated portion Ha of a raised character is interrupted by a relatively narrow longitudinal slit I4. Such a slit can be formed by a relatively thin saw blade, as for example a blade capable of cutting a slit of the order of 0.0075 inch wide. As indicated in Fig. 3 the slit as it enters the character must commence from one edge of the block It). In order to rigidly retain all portions of the block together, without securing a stencilling effect, it is desirable to have the slits interrupted by integral portions l6 of the block. These portions can be formed by cutting with the saw blade from opposite directions, and at opposite angles whereby the slot is made continuous for the raised character, while it is interrupted below by a wedge shaped portion of the body.

After the slits have been formed in the manner described suitable solder or like filling medium is applied to fill the ends of the slits extending beyond the contours of the characters. Thus in Fig. 4 the slit portion i ta extending beyond the end of the character portion Ila, is shown filled with solder or other suitable medium so that the open slit terminates within the contour of the raised character.

In using the die block described above the mounting is adapted to supply fluid ink to the lower side of the block, whereby the slits are maintained filled with the ink at all times. In this connection'it is desirable to utilize an ink which is solid at normal temperatures, together with provision for maintaining the ink together with the marking die and associated parts, at an elevated temperature. Thus the space I7 below the die l0 and adapter I 2, forms a reservoir for ink, which communicates with a duct or passage l8, leading to an ink container l9. An electrical heating element 2! is shown in contact with the lower side of the mounting plate l3, and in order to control the supply of current to this element and thus maintain a relatively constant elevated temperature, I have indicated a suitable thermostatic switch 22. By means of this arrangement the entire assembly can be maintained at an elevated temperature, as for example a temperature of the order of degrees F.

The ink utilized should be one which is relatively fluid at the elevated temperature of operation. A suitable ink may be one containing normally solid waxes, such as beeswax. Care should be taken so that the amount of ink in the container I9 is not sufiicient to establish a hydraulic head sufficient to cause discharge of ink through the die block. In normal operation fluid ink fills duct 18 and the space H, and also completely fills the slits 14, to a level substantially coincident with the upper face of the raised characters. This is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 6. Now if an object such as an article of fruit 23 is impressed upon the characters of the die, as for example by rolling the fruit over the marking die, the surface of the fruit will contact the ink at the upper ends or edges of the slits, with the result that the ink solidifies on the relatively cool surface of the body and a good ink impression will be placed upon the surface of the fruit. The ink appears to maintain itself at the upper ends of the slits for optimum contact with a surface applied to the characters, irrespective of small changes in the level of ink within the container l9. There is no marked tendency towards smearing of the ink and the slits do not readily become clogged.

Such a marking die can be used continuously over a long period of time, and it entirely dispenses with use of additional inking devices.

I claim:

1. In a self inking marking appliance, a die block having raised characters formed on its upper face, relatively narrow slits extending through the block and through the characters, whereby said slits interrupt the outer faces of the characters and follow generally the contouring of the characters, a mounting for the block, said mounting affording a reservoir for ink upon the underside of the block and in communication with said slits, said slits providing a supply of ink by capillary action at said upper face, and means for supplying a fluid ink to said reservoir.

2. In a marking die, a die block having raised characters formed on its upper face, a mounting for the block forming a reservoir extending beneath the block, a container in communication with said reservoir, the container adapted to receive a quantity of normally solid fluid ink, relatively narrow slits formed through the block and the raised characters, the slits communicating with the faces of the characters and following generally the contouring of the characters, the slits providing a supply of ink by capillary action at said upper face, and means for heating the mounting together with the block and said container to an elevated temperature, to maintain the normally solid ink in fluid condition.

HAROLD J. MUMMA.