US2706447A - Pocket seal presses - Google Patents

Description

April 19, 1955 c. PRlEsMEYl-:R 2,706,447

POCKET SEAL PRESSES Filed Sept. 14, 1950 '4 uli/1111111111.vrllllllllllf United States Patent O POCKET SEAL PRESSES Charles Priesmeyer, Park Ridge, Ill., assignor to Meyer & Wenthe, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 14, 1950, Serial No. 184,792 Claims. (Cl. 101--3) The present invention relates to paper embossing devices and particularly to pocket-type seal presses prevalently used by corporations and notaries public.

In conventional pocket seal presses employing a roller on the working end of a manual lever to force one of the press die members into pressure engagement with the other die member, it has been found that the leaf spring element supporting the moving die does not permit the dies to work with equal pressure over the whole surface of the dies during the embossing movement.

If the spring is light enough to permit the dies to seek pressure equalizing positions, the spring may not always hold the dies in exact coincidence and the shifting point of rolling contact of the roller transmitting the squeezing pressure of the lever becomes a decided factor in augmenting unbalance and possible relative shifting of the die members.

lf the spring is strong enough to assure proper coincidence, then the dies do not move towards each other with equal increment of distances over the entire die or press area with the result that the dies may tear the paper over certain areas which are engaged rst, or the heaviest and the remaining area of the impression is wrinkled and non-uniform in appearance.

Legal documents requiring a seal should have a sharp impression thereon which is uniform over the entire area with none of the paper severed or torn from the body. In order to provide sharp impressions over long periods of wear, the dies should be of maximum depth and clearness but not deep enough to tear holes in the paper if the embossing pressure is applied uniformly. If the closing of the dies is unequal or the pressure unequally distributed, a portion of the paper will receive advance deformation over a certain area and the remaining area will not support the paper under its own pressure distortion nor be sufficiently strong to prevent leaching and wrinkling of the other portion of the die area. Uniformity and perfect embossing is sacrificed and a tearing of the paper, particularly with new seals, occurs repeatedly.

Moreover, when heavy springs are used to support the moving die of the seal members, the assembly, servicing and use of the press is not entirely satisfactory. The spring has to be put in place without tension and a wedge, screw, or other means thereafter driven into place to establish the die opening spring tension. The spring being a hardened piece of metal scores or digs into the wedge, or if held with a screw or other conventional means it has a tendency to loosen. Moreover, if the wedge or screw is not located in the exact position necessary to establish the correct operation of the dies then performance after servicing in the field becomes a customer problem.

Even the best die makes no better imprint than the frame in which it works permits it, and with present-day improved die making techniques of the finest order, such is wasted if the seal frame does not provide perfect alignment and mating pressures.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved press actuator for paper embossing dies which assure parallelism between the die members during their embossing operation and equally distributed pressures over the entire die area.

A further object of the invention is to provide a die holder and die support relationship in which the opening and closing tension on the movable die member is carried at a moving point which shifts in conjunction with ice the shift of the point of roller which applies the closing force and maintains parallelism between the dies throughout the embossing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a predetermined engagement relationship between the frame and die supporting elements which is easily established and released, yet is maintained constant during its operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a frame assembly in which the effective relationship between main relative moving parts is determined by permanently assembled elements which constitute with respect to each other non-varying reference elements for initially mating the dies and thereafter maintaining perfect coordination of the dies throughout their life and under any and all repairs or servicing of the device.

The invention is also characterized by structure and a relationship of parts which is easily made, assembled, operated and serviced without the parts slipping, loosening, scoring, or damaging one another during their assembly and use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction in a device of the class described wherein the die holder is easily removable yet carried and guided in exact position by an element mounted on the frame as a permanent part thereof.

The invention also contemplates an improved die mounting in which the top of the die can be easilyI oriented in any angular relationship to locate the imprint in any predetermined position, and this relationship so maintained throughout the life of the die.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a very light and compact pocket seal which is inexpensive to manufacture and service and ruggedly constructed for long and satisfactory operation.

These being among the objects of the invention, further objects and advantages will become apparent from the drawing and the description relating thereto in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation in medial vertical section of a pocket seal showing the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is an exploded View of the die, die shoe and! die holder assembly;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the spring clip elements shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modification of the die holder.

The invention contemplates a frame 10, U-shaped in cross section, pivotally supporting a cradle 11 as mounted permanently on a cross rivet 12 which in turn rigidities and maintains the sides of the frame 10 in exact spaced relationship. A free end 13 of a die support 14 is loosely received between the cradle 11 and the rivet 12 and is held in place by an interlocking aperture 15 and finger 16 arrangement to locate a die 17 at the other end in exact position and support it against all movement except pivotally about the rivet 12. A spring clip 18 is disposed between the bottom of the frame 10 and the cradle 11 and when slipped into place it engages and presses upwardly against the cradle 11 at a point located between the rivet 12 and the die 17. This not only urges the free end of the die support 14 to ride hard against the rivet 12 at all times but also maintains said interlock between the aperture 15 and finger 16 and holds the die 17 against the working end of a lever 20 and supplies enough force to raise the lever 20 and the die 17 after an impression is completed.

More particularly, the frame 10 comprises a flat stamping, die formed to the U-shaped cross section shown wherein the sides 19 are parallel. The external convex surface of the rounded portion of the U-section provides a handle 21 and the internal concave surface serves as a channel-like slideway 22 open at both ends to accommodate the spring clip 18 in its movement to and from its working position when assembled or disassembled. At its rear end the rounded portion of the stamping is drawn downwardly as at 23 when die formed so as to stress the stamping in more directions than one to make it rugged and easy to handle. Furthermore, the rivet 12 interconnects and supports against all strains the two sides 19 at a point above the downward draw to establish and maintain an exact clearance between the sides 19 at this point.

The cradle 11 is mounted upon the rivet 12 at the time this rivet 12 is set and swings freely about the rivet on apertured ears 24 which are upturned at its side edges to rest against the sides 19 in closely guided relationship. The forward portion of the cradle 11 is reduced in width to form shoulders 29 (Fig. 4) and the end is upturned to provide the finger 16 already mentioned. Between the finger 16 and the ears 24, the body portion of the cradle is reversely bent downwardly to form a U-shaped offset 25 whose rounded lower outer face affords a bearing surface. Preferably the offset 25 is so constructed and located that flat portions are left on each side of the offset 25 coplanar with each other to bear and rest against the bottom face of the die support 14, but this is not entirely necessary as long as the portion of the cradle 11 contacting the die support 14 on each side of the finger 16 engages this support on one or more lines or surfaces disposed parallel to the rivet 12.

At the front end of the frame 10, the sides 19 are notched out as at 26 to form an upper overhanging arm 27 and a lower arm 28. The front portion of the lower arm 28 receives in rigidly supported relation a lower die assembly comprising a block 30 and die 39 thereon which assembly is secured in place in a suitable manner as by upset ears or silver soldering. The upper arm 27 comprises two side members held together by a front rivet 31 located near the front which also serves as a stop, and a second rivet 32 located a little to the rear of the rst rivet 31 on which is journalled the handle 20.

The handle 20 is also a heavy sheet metal stamping, die formed to a U-shaped cross section and rounding in both directions along its upper extremity to tit into the palm of a persons hand comfortably. As shown in Fig. l, the handle 20 has a latch 33 slidably mounted at its forward end comprising an upper and lower member 34 and 35, respectively, held in place by a rivet 36 sliding in a slot 37. Whenever the handle is pressed downwardly a predetermined distance, the latch 33 can be slid forwardly to ride over the top of the rivet 31 and employ the rivet 31 as a stop to prevent separation of the dies 17 and 39 and hold the handle 20 down. This eliminates the danger of any foreign body inadvertently getting between the dies when they are not in use and causing damage to the dies.

Whenever the seal is to be used, the handle 2t) is pressed enough to relax the engagement between the latch mmber 35 and rivet 31 so that the latch 33 can be moved by thumb rearwardly, whereupon the handle 20 is released and the dies 17 and 39 will separate readily to receive paper between them. The amount of separation is limited by a shoulder 38 on the handle 20 also engaging the rivet 31 as a stop.

Between the sides of the handle 20 at its front end this handle carries a roller 40 journalled on a transversely disposed pin 41. The location of this roller is slightly to the rear of the rivet 32 and below the level thereof so that downward movement of the handle 2t) drives the roller 40 arcuately downwardly and forwardly slightly as the dies 17 and 39 mesh and close.

The die holder 14 supported at one end on the cradle 11 and driven downwardly by the roller 40 at the other end will now be described. In the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. l the die support 14 is a heavy sheet metal stamping rounded as at the head 43 to follow concentrically the edges of the die 17 at the front end and cut back or narrowed along parallel lines rearwardly of the head 43 to define edges which t with close clearances between the sides 19 in guided relationship. At its rear end the holder 14 is further narrowed as at 44 to be received between the ears 24 on the cradle and also is apertured as at 15 to receive the linger 16 snugly therein.

At the center of the rounded head 43 of the die holder' 14, a round hole 45 is punched out having three small circumferentially spaced grooves 49 in the walls thereof. The hole 45 is provided so as to receive in supporting relation a cylindrical stud 46 which is fashioned on the top of the upper die 17 to locate and hold this die in place. To do this the top of the seal in the upper die 17 is oriented with respect to the die support arm 14 with the stud 46 in the hole 45 and the stud 46 is prick-punched opposite each one of a plurality of grooves 49 to swage stud stock into these grooves. This not only holds the die 17 in correct orientation throughout the life of the seal but prevents it from ever coming loose.

Also in the rounded head 43 are punched two holes 47 in longitudinal alignment with the hole 45 and the aperture 15 to mount a wear plate or shoe 48 (Fig. 5). Two pins 50 extending downwardly from the shoe 48 are received in the holes 47 to locate the shoe 48 on top of the die support 14 where it tracks the roller 40.

ln the embodiment 14a of the die support shown in Fig. 7, the connecting portion between a rounded end 43a and the aperture 15 is narrowed appreciably to provide for a slight flexure of the support as where smaller and lighter seals are desired. The spring action permits of some manufacturing variation and the use of the principles of the invention in even smaller seals.

Referring now to the construction of the spring clip 18 shown in Figs. l, 3, 4 and 6, this element has a rounded base portion at 51 which will mate and slide snugly in the channel or slideway 22 of the frame 10 and a reversely bent end 52 includes a spring tongue provided with a transverse groove 53 near its free end preferably with a portion of the free end beyond the groove 53 higher than the portion of the spring tongue on the other side of the groove. This groove mates with the bearing surface on the offset 25 of the cradle. An end wall 54 is also provided against which a driftpin can be driven when assembling the seal.

It will be observed that the spring member 52 is com` paratively short, and acts upon the cradle near the rivet The pressure imposed upon the spring 52 is substantially heavy under resting conditions and increases with downward movement of the die holder. In this connection it will be seen that the roller 40 engages the shoe 48 over a very short path extending from the center of the die 17 to a point located a little to the rear of this center of the die.

In assembly, with the lower die holder in place and the cradle 11 on the rivet 12, the handle 20 is first mounted on the pin 32 between the arms 27 and moved to its highest point of travel. The frame 10 is then ready to receive the upper die support 14 and die 17 and the lower die 30. The upper die 17 is made, oriented in the support 14, and fastened there by prick-punching the stud 46 as already described. The shoe 48 is mounted in place on top of the upper die support 14. The spring clip 18 is then started into place from the rear, and as the leading edge of the spring 52 engages the bearing surface of the offset 25, the die support 14 is pushed rearwardly until the finger 16 enters the aperture 15. Thereafter the spring clip 18 is further advanced manually as far as possible and it will hold that position until a driftpin is brought to bear against the end wall 54 and the clip is pushed home to carry this clip forwardly until the bearing surface of the offset 25 seats in the groove 53. The spring tension placed upon the spring clip 18 in doing this forces the rear end of the die support 14 solidly against the rivet 12 and moves this die holder and the handle 2t) to their upper limit of movement.

After this is done the lower mating die 39 is nested in the upper die 17 and a sealer (not shown) is inserted on the upper face of the lower die holder 30. The handle 20 is then depressed to carry the lower die 39 downwardly in full orientation with the upper die 17 to squeeze the sealer between the lower die 39 and its holder. The die assembly is then brought to a mild heat to adhere the parts with the sealer, and the pocket seal is ready for use in the conventional manner. When desired to clean or service the die, the driftpin is inserted in the front of the frame 10 under the bottom die 30 and driven against the spring clip 18 to dislodge it rearwardly, whereupon the cradle oiiset 25 slips from the groove 53 and the cradle finger 16 drops out of the aperture 15 and the die support 14 can be withdrawn, cleaned, or serviced, and returned to its identical position again, as already described.

Geometrically speaking, the rivet 12 is located with its lower edge at or slightly below the plane of that portion of the upper surface of the die support 14 when it is disposed parallel with the bottom die face. The spring clip 18 exes the die support 14 only slightly and with this arrangement the dies 17 and 39 are parallel with each other as they contact opposite sides of the sheet to be embossed. Thereafter the final movement of these dies to accomplish the embossing is made with the roller 40 moving from a point slightly on the rear side of the center line of the die 17 up to the center line point. Moreover, due to the stiffness of the die support and the lever relation applied through the forward end ofthe cradle 11 to the spring clip 18, the die support will move appreciably downwardly also at the finger 16 during the final movement of the die 17. This slight shift of the point of pressure applied by the roller 40, the work load of the dies 17 and 39, and the downward movement of the die support 14 at -the front end maintain the dies parallel throughout the embossing operation with the end result that a substantially perfect embossing, uniform over the entire area, is performed with no tearing of the paper.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the rivet 12 is located slightly lower than its position in Fig. 1 in which position with the resiliency present in the die support 14a, Vthe area proximate to the aperture 15 becomes the effective point for movement of the die 17 and in this instance the die support 14a is initially bent downwardly at a slight angle along the line 55 to afford the proper relationship.

Furthermore, it will be seen how the seal can be made in mass production with little manufacturing variation because the rivet 12 and cradle 11 are a permanent part of the frame assembly, whereas in former constructions the rivet 12 had to be removable to assemble or dissemble the seal parts. Moreover, assembly and disassembly can be had with parts which locate themselves in correct position without loosening, slipping or scoring each other.

Having thus described the invention and i-ts several embodiments it will be seen by those skilled in the art how the objects stated herein are fulfilled and various and further changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a device of the class described the combination of a channel-shaped handle, a pin rigidly interconnecting the sides of the handle, a cradle positioned-between the sides of the handle having ears pivotally mounted on the pin and a portion extending forwardly between the sides with a bearing on its lower side and an upturned finger at its end, a die support extending into the handle from the front end between the sides and received at one end between the ears and under the pin and having ari opening receiving said finger in interlocking engagement, a spring clip slidably supported in the handle;l beneath the cradle to engage the bearing in predetermined relationship and resiliently urge the die support upwardly for maintaining said interlocking engagement and to press the die support against the pin.

2. In a device of the class described the combination of a channel-shaped frame, a rivet interconnecting the sides of the frame, a cradle pivotally mounted on the rivet and positioned between -the sides of the frame, a die support extending into the frame from the front having an end located under and in contact with the rivet as a fulcrum point, means interlocking said die support and cradle at a point removed from said rivet, a spring clip slidably supported by the frame and positioned below the cradle to resiliently engage the cradle and urge said end of the die support upwardly in contact with the rive-t.

3. In a device of the class described the combination of a channel-shaped frame having parallel sides, a cradle pivotally mounted on the frame extending forwardly between said sides and having a bearing on the lower side thereof, a die support extending into the frame between the sides above said bearing and receivedv at one end in interlocking engagement with said cradle, a clip slidably supported by the frame and having a spring element offset downwardly to receive the bearing and to urge the die support upwardly at the point of bearing.

4. In a device of the class described the combination of a U-shaped frame member having a handle defining a channel, a pin rigidly interconnecting the sides of the frame, a cradle journalled on the pin and having a portion extending forwardly between the sides, said cradle having a bearing surface on the bottom thereof spaced from the pin, an elongated die support with one end received between the cradle and the pin, means for interlocking the cradle and die support, and a spring clip slidably supported in said frame resiliently engaging said cradle at said bearing to urge the die support upwardly adjacent the interlocking means.

5. In a device of the class described the combination of a U-shaped frame member having a handle, a pin rigidly interconnecting the sides of the frame near the end thereof, a cradle journalled on the pin and having an upwardly extending finger thereon forwardly of the pin, an elongated die support with one end received between the cradle and pin and having an aperture receiving the finger, and a spring clip positioned in said frame re j siliently engaging said cradle at a point spaced from the pin to urge the die support against the pin and hold the finger in the aperture.

6. A seal press comprising a frame having a pair of substantially parallel sides, a pin secured to the sides of the frame, a cradle pivotally mounted on the pin and positioned between the sides, a die member,l a flexible arm for supporting the die member, said arm being interposed at one end between the pin and the cradle and also being supported at a point spaced from the interposed end by said cradle, means pivotally secured to the frame for moving the die member, and a spring member slidably supported on the frame in engagement with the cradle for resiliently urging the cradle into engagement with the exible arm whereby the arm is exed at the point spaced from the pin.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a channel shaped handle, a pin interconnecting the sides of the handle, a cradle positioned between the sides of the handle having ears pivotally mounted on the pin a portion extending forwardly between the sides with a bearing on its lower side and an upturned finger at its end, a die support extending into the handle from the front end between the sides and received at one end between the ears and under the pin having an opening receiving said finger in an interlocking engagement, a spring-clip having a base portion slidably supported in the handle beneath the cradle and engaging the bearing in predetermined relationship, to urge the die support upwardly for maintaining said interlocking engagement and to press the die support against the pin, a portion of the free end of the tongue beyond the recess being higher than the remaining portion of the tongue.

8. In a device of the class described the combination of a channel-shaped frame, a cradle pivotally mounted between the sides thereof, a die support extending into the frame between the sides thereof, and on one end of the die support having elements engaging each other in interlocking relationship, said die support having a circular opening at one end provided with grooves terminating on the face of the support in the edge of said opening, a die having a boss received in said opening with stock upset therefrom in said grooves, a spring clip slidably supported by the frame and positioned beneath the cradle to resiliently engage cradle and maintain said interlocking engagement and urge thedie support upwardly at a point between the ends thereof, said interlocking relationship being readily released when said spring clip is removed.

9. In a device of the class described the combination of a channel-shaped frame having a pair of substantially parallel sides, a cradle member pivotally mounted on the frame between the sides thereof, a die support member supported within the frame, one of said members having an aperture therein spaced from one end thereof and the other of said members having a finger thereon received in an interlocking with said aperture, a spring clip slidably supported on the frame beneath the cradle to support the cradle and resiliently urge the die support upwardly adjacent the aperture to hold said finger in said aperture.

l0. In a device of the class described having a frame carrying a lower die and a pivotally mounted handle means above it, an upper die holder comprising a stamping enlarged .at one end and having a wall defining a circular hole therethrough provided with axially disposed grooves in the sides thereof, means for pivotally supporting the reduced end of the stamping, means for urging said enlarged portion towards the handle in a direction away from said lower die, and an upper die member having a boss thereon received snugly in said hole to a depth Hush with the remote edge of the hole with stock of the boss adjacent said grooves upset into said grooves in a predetermined relationship against relaembossing relationship.

(References on following page) References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Leve Dec Heliberg Jan. Eyman Oct. Willard Feb.

8 Gibson July 31, 1928 Witt Dec. 31, 1929 Priesmeyer June 4, 1900 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 30, 1940

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