US2733751A - Machine for making fibrous badges having - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 7. 1956 R. G. SCHMITT ET AL 2,733,751

MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBROUS BADGES HAVING AN ADHESIVE SECURING PORTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1954 INVENTOR5 Jiolcmd 6'. 561 m Feb. 7. 1956 R. G. SCHMITT ET AL 2,733,751

MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBROUS BADGES HAVING AN ADHESIVE SECURING PORTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1954 I Q; i i;

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MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBROUS BADGES HAVING AN ADHESIVE SECURING PORTION Filed Feb. 19, 1954' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent MACHINE FORMAKING FIBROUS BADGES HAV- AN ADHESIVE SECURING PQRTIGN Roland G. Schinitt and Vernon E. Swedberg, Chicago, Ill assignors to Walgreen (30., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February19, 1954, Serial No. 411,47

1 Claim. (Cl. 1541) This invention relates to a machine for making badges of cloth, paper or other suitable material wherein the badge proper is imprinted, blanked, and then provided with an adhesive securing portion, and wherein such securing portion is initially in tape formto serve thespecific function during operation of the machine of carrying the badges away from the blanking station, whereafter the tape is severed. The invention also contemplates the novel product as produced,for example, on the machine as well as the process by which the same are produced in commercially convenient form.

In retail stores badges are frequently employed in a promotional manner to carry a special advertising message to the customer. The procedure generally takes the form of imprinting the then-current message upon an inexpensive cloth or paper badge which is preferably afiixed to the salespersons coat or uniform by an adhesive bond of a character calculated not to injure the clothing. Safety pins or other penetrating types of fastenings are obviously undesirable. Furthermore, the advertising message is preferably changed at least daily to excite the customers interest with a fresh feature at frequent intervals. In this way the customer develops anticipation for the daily message and the possible bargain it may represent.

In order that the storekeeper may be supplied at the desired frequent intervals ordinary commercial-sources of supply are ruled out as these are not generally capable of, or equipped for producing daily asmall supply of badges each lot of which bears a different message.

Accordingly, this invention has, for its principal object, the provision of a simple, inexpensive machine for the production of badges of the characteroutlined which is capable of being safely operated'by a relatively unskilled attendant.

Another object is to provide a machine as aforesaid adapted for rapid changing of the type matter.

A further object is to provide a machine in accordance with the foregoing which is adapted to receive blank stock of cloth, paper, plastic composition or other material suitable for the purpose both in roll and strip form.

Still another object is to provide a machine including means for blanking the article and securing the separate badges temporarily pending ultimate use thereof, and which securingmediumis also usable subsequently for adhesively attaching the badge to the wearers clothing.

Other objects will-appear from the following description which, taken with the accompanying drawings, will disclose a preferred/mode of carrying the invention into practice.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a top plan view of the machine;

Fig.2 is a left side elevational view thereof;

Fig. ,3 is a front-elevational view thereof;

Fig. 4 shows a vertical cross section substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 isa view to show more clearly details of the shearing means; and

they are severally. secured. The badges and strip as thus grouped are then capable of being shipped as a plurality for separation at thepoint of ultimate use or, if preferred, separated at the point of departure from the machine. Preferably a two-sided adhesive strip is employed whereby one face'may be adhered to the badge and the other face, after removal of a layer of temporary protective material, may subsequently be secured to the wearers clothing, the adhesive being of a non-injurious character.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a framework 10 includinga right side Wall 11, a left side wall 12, a rear wall 13, a front wall 14 and a base 15, all whereof are mutually joined as a rigid unit in any conventional fashion.

An electrical power unit 17 of the gear reduction-motor driven type is provided with a sprocket lsconnected by a chain 19 to another sp'roeketzz keyed to a jack shaft 23. Such shaft is journalled in an outboard sleeve bearing 24 in the frame part 11 and in an inboard ball bearing 25 supported on the rigid posts 26-26 outstanding from the frame part 12.

At the forward end of the shaft 23 there is provided a crank pin 32 whichis effective to convert the rotation of the shaft 23 into reciprocating motion of the printing mechanism. To this end a crosshead 35 is supportedfor sliding movement in a guide 36 held on the plate 12. Such crosshead carries a horizontally extending bracket 36 to which is secureda pillow block 37 having a pin 39 for accommodating the connecting rod 41. Thus energization of the motor is effective to reciprocate the crosshead andits thereto-"attached printing head 51.

Inasmuch as the exemplification embodiment shown and described hereinis designed to imprint from foil by the action of heat the head 51 is shown as carrying an electrical heating unit 52 and an interchangeable printing plate 53 carriedin a holder 54. Current for the heater is shown as supplied througha cord '56 and-switch box57 and may be thermostatically controlled, all in a well-known manner. Obviously the type-matter'inay be hand set or plates and carried in as'uitable chase, asis commonly understood. The'platen 59 may be rubber'carried on'a bridge 61 supported on pedestals 62-62 bolted to the base plate 15.

In the illustrated case material for the badges is inthe form of a roll of cloth or other flexible material 63 and fed from on a spool 64 which is arranged for relatively free rotation on a spindle 65outstanding from an arm-66 secured to thetplate 12. Friction means of common form represented by a compression spring 67 and retaining collar 68 may be provided.

Upon leaving the spool, the strip 63 is fed under a pair of positioning rollers 69-69 so located as to insure flat lay and tautness of the strip over the platen 59, and a consequent uniform impression thereon. Intermittent ad vancernent of the strip is effected by a rubber-faced feed roller 73 cooperating with a spring-pressed idler roller 74 a miter gear 84 which is keyed to a stub shaft 86 rotatably supportedin a-pillow block 87 carried-on the plate 12. Toward the rear of the shaft 86 is secured V a spring post 98. A unidirectional clutch 90 is interposed between the shaft 95 and a shaft 96 to which the feed roller 73 is keyed for mutual rotation. Thus circular motion of the pin 92 is effective to impart partial rotation to the sprocket 94 depending upon the ratio between the throw of the pin and the pitch diameter of the sprocket. By proper selection of such ratio with respect to the periphery of the roller 73 the strip 63 may be advanced the required amount at each cycle of operation. By employment of the clutch 90 the chain 93 is allowed to be restored to its initial position under urging of the spring 97.

Following imprinting the strip 63 is fed through a guide 101 cut into an opening 105 in the wall 12 (Figs. 3 and for the blanking of the badges and their incorporation with the adhesive material as will now be described.

A support and guide block 111 is secured to the wall 12 and and is bored at 112-412 to receive slidably a pair of guide rods 113113 and which, upon its front surface, supports a platform 117. A solenoid 118 is secured to the plate 12 and includes a plunger 121 linked at 122 to a yoke comprising parts 123 and 124124, and which latter are attached to a cross bar 126 to which the guide rods 113113 are bolted.

The punch which, with its cooperating die, severs the strip 63 into the selected length for the badge and simultaneously provides any desired marginal configuration therefor is indicated at 131, and may be carried on a shoe 132 forming an extension of the cross bar 126. The corresponding die is shown at 134 and is mounted on the guide block 111. In the illustrative case the strip 63 is severed in a manner to'provide badges having end margins as shown in Fig. 6 although obviously the contour is capable of wide variation within the scope of the invention. Desirably, and in accordance with the usual practice, a presser foot 141 in the form of a rubber pad cemented to the punch 131 may be employed to restrict shifting of the strip 63 during severance thereof.

Intermittent operation of the punch and die is accomplished in synchronism with the printing mechanism by opening and closing of a switch 145 mounted on the wall 14 and actuated by a cam 146 formed on a disc 147. Disc 147 is driven via a miter gear 148 keyed to a shaft 151 and in mesh with the miter gear 84. Disc 147 is carried at the outer end of the shaft 151 which also carries a sprocket 152 to drive, through a chain 154, another sprocket 155 for a purpose later to appear.

Disc 147 also carries a crank pin 161 to which one end of a chain 162 is linked and which latter passes over a sprocket 163 keyed to a shaft forming the input of a uni-directional clutch 164, the output whereof is represented by a shaft 165 carrying a rubber-faced feed roller 167. A knurled-face idler roller 168 protrudes through a slot in the platform 117 for gripping and feeding of the adhesive tape 171 and the thereto-secured cut badges. The adhesive material is preferably a paper strip coated on both sides with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, one face being protected by a strippable protective strip ofpaper so arranged, by slitting or otherwise, as to be easily peeled off when the badge is to be applied to the wearers clothing. The opposite face of the tape is exposed as it leaves its supply roll and is therefore partially pressed into contact with the lower face of the badges (Fig. 6) as the badge is severed from the advancing strip and fully pressed into contact by the rolls 167 and 168. Accordingly a roll of the material is supported on means 172 which may be similar in form and function to the means employed for the ribbon 63, wherefrom it is fed below the advancing ribbon and in such 4 position relative thereto as to result in the assembled arrangemcnt of Fig. 6 just described.

From the preceding description it will have become clear that, simultaneously with the severance of the strip 63 into individual badges the concurrent downward travel of the foot 141 will cause the separated portion, e. g., 176, to adhere to the unprotected, i. e., upper face of the adhesive tape 171, each portion or badge 176 advancing from blanking position upon the tape 171 acting as a conveyor. Additionally the working face of the presser foot 141 is made coextensive with the area formed by the intersection of the cut badge and the securing strip 171. Otherwise if the presser foot is permitted to contact the upper adhesive surface of the strip 171 it would simply lift the same with it and cause misfunction. By this procedure the badges leave the machine in an orderly manner lending itself to subsequent simple packaging and dispensing. For example, and by utilizing a counting mechanism 181, the attendant may simply allow a predetermined plurality of badges to leave the machine, whereupon the tape 171 may be cut by hand at that point, and a shipping carton into which the badges have been permitted to accumulate, removed and another substituted. If desired automatic means may be used for separating the badges singly as they exit from the blanking station. It will be understood that, by suitable design and adjustment of the machine, the spacing of the successive badges along the tape 171 may be made as close as desired. Thus one cut will separate the same without leaving an unsightly, excessive overrun of tape on the lateral margins of the badges.

When imprinting from metallic or other foil'which is generally supplied commercially in rolls means are provided to feed the same intermittently between the type face and ribbon. In the embodiment shown a roll of foil 201 is supported for rotation, subject to the customary mild braking force, on a spindle 202 and thence passes over the strip 63 whereat it is utilized during the printing step in a manner now believed to be apparent. Thereafter the exhausted foil is drawn downwardly and between a power-driven roller 204 and an idler roller 205. Suitable intermittent rotation of the roller 204 is provided by means similar to that heretofore detailed. Such means includes the sprocket 155, heretofore mentioned, keyed to a shaft 200 which, through gears 198 and 199, drives a shaft 207 which also carries a disc 208 having a crank pin 209. The chain 211, spring 212 and sprocket 213 function in a manner now believed to be apparent, to operate the roller 204 through a unidirectional clutch 214.

In order to assure current to the driving motor until the printing head has returned to its upper, or normal rest position a micro-switch 221 is arranged to be operated by a pin 222 carried on shaft 207. The circuitry is such that the switch 221 is connected in parallel across the main motor switch (not shown). Therefore, notwithstanding opening of the latter, the motor circuit is held closed until the printing head is at its uppermost position, and at which time, the pin 222 opens the switch 221.

It will be comprehended that the badges may be simply blanked from a continuous ribbon upon which the printing has already been done. In such case feeding of the ribbon intermittently and synchronously with the movement of the punch may be accomplished in any wellknown manner, as for example, by the use of a marker associated with each printed impression cooperative with photocell-actuated ribbon-feeding mechanism.

While we have shown a particular embodiment of our invention, it will be understood, of course, that we do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and we therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of our invention.

We claim:

A machine for manufacturing from a strip of mate rial badges having at least one dimension equal to the width of the strip and a separate, adhesively secured element for securing the badge to the wearers clothing, the element extending continuously across the badge in the direction of said dimension and having a width in the perpendicular direction substantially less than said first direction which comprises means for advancing said strip extensive with the area of intersection of the two strips, whereby said presser foot presses the severed badge into adhesive contact with the second strip substantially simultaneously with the severing operation and said second strip is thereafter eifective to convey its thereto-attached badges away from the severing station as a completed product, and means for synchronizing the intermittent advance of said two strips and severing and presser foot means for simultaneous dwell thereof during the intermittently past a severing station, means at said sta- 10 cutting and pressing operations.

tion for severing the strip across its width to provide individual badges, means for intermittently advancing a strip of adhesive material perpendicularly to the direction of advance of the first strip in a path adjacent said severing means, and closely adjacent the path of the advancing first strip, a presser foot carried on said severing means for action substantially simultaneously therewith, said presser foot having a working face co- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 2,511,559 Banfi et a1 June 13, 1950 2,569,101 Hoppe Sept. 25, 1951 2,642,116 Fisher et a1. June 16, 1953

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