US2778305A

US2778305A - Device for marking tubular articles

Info

Publication number: US2778305A
Application number: US346562A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ira S Gottscho; Hirschey Malcolm; Jr Andrew J Alessi
Original assignee: Adolph Gottscho Inc
Current assignee: Adolph Gottscho Inc
Priority date: 1953-04-03
Filing date: 1953-04-03
Publication date: 1957-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 1974-01-22

Description

Jan. 22, 1957 l. SFGOTTSCHO ET AL 2,773,305

DEVICE FOR MARKING TUBULAR ARTICLES Filed April 3. 1953 aw N c f S 0 5M w i am GT 5 5 n kmw m ATTORNEX DEVICE FOR MARKING TUBULAR ARTICLES lra S. Gottscho, Milburn, N. J., Malcolm Hirschey, Woodside, N. Y., and Andrew J. Alessi, Jr., Colonia, N. J., assignors to Adolph Gottscho, Inc., Hillside, N. 1., a corporation of New York Application April 3, 1953, Serial No. 346,562

4 Claims. (Cl. 101329) The present invention relates to a device for marking tubular articles, and is particularly directed to a hand manipulated device for applying inked impressions to the surfaces of tubular articles.

Prior to the present invention hand manipulated de vices have been provided for marking elongated articles and included a marking or printing roller rotatably mounted in a suitable frame having a handle to be grasped by the operator. The frame is manually moved along the elongated article to be marked and the marking or printing roller has bearer rims at the opposite sides for frictional contact with the article to produce rotation of the roller in response to the linear movement of the frame along the article. However, when a tubular article is marked by an existing device of the character described above, the bearer rims at the sides of the printing or marking roller do not contact the surface of the article and rotation of the roller is produced only by contact of the type carried between the bearer rims with the surface of the tubular article. Since the type usually does not extend completely around the circumference of the printing or marking roller, the rotation of the roller, resulting from contact of the type with the surface of the article is only intermittent, and there is some slipping and consequent blurring of the inked impression when the type first comes into contact with the article during each rotational cycle of the roller.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for marking tubular articles which includes a marking or printing roller and mechanism for continuously rotating the marking roller as the device is moved along the article being marked to avoid blurring of the impression applied to the article.

Another object is to provide a device of the described character wherein the mechanism which operates to effect rotation of the marking roller in response to movement of the device along the tubular article being marked also serves to guide the device on the article to achieve uniformity in the locations of successive markings ap plied to the tubular article.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention appearing in the detailed description of an illustrative embodiment given below, are accomplished by providing a marking device which includes an elongated frame having a handle extending from one end and a marking or printing roller rotatably mounted adjacent the other end of the frame for carrying marking elements, such as type, on its periphery. A fountain roller carrying a supply of ink is rotatably mounted on the frame with its axis parallel to that of the marking roller and at a location spaced from the latter in the direction toward the handle. A transfer roller is rotatably mounted on the frame between the marking and fountain rollers and in rolling contact with both of the latter to transfer ink from the fountain roller to the surfaces of the type on the periphery of the marking roller. A guiding and driving roller is rotatably mounted on a bracket extates atent tending from the frame for rotation about an axis parallel to the axes of the fountain, transfer and marking rollers. The guiding and driving roller is formed with a shallow central groove of V-shaped cross-section extending around the periphery thereof to receive and frictionally contact the tubular article being marked, and with cylindrical bearer rims at the opposite sides of the V-shaped groove which effect frictional and rolling contact with corresponding bearer rims on the transfer roller. Finally, the marking roller is also provided with bearer rims adjacent its opposite sides, and these bearer rims are in frictional and rolling contact with the bearer rims on the transfer roller so that, as the marking device is moved along a tubular article to be marked with the guiding and driving roller riding on the article and the frame disposed to effect contact between the type-on the periphery of the marking roller and the surface of the article, the guiding and driving roller causes the device to follow the article and produces rotation of the transfer roller and marking roller.

In order that the present invention may be fully understood, an illustrative embodiment thereof will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a marking device embodying the present invention and shown in marking relationship to a tubular article which is illustrated in broken lines; i

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the marking device illustrated in Fig. 1;

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

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view on an enlarged scale showing the relationship between an element of the marking device of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and a tubular article during marking of the latter.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a marking device embodying the present invention is there generally identified by the reference numeral 10. The marking device 10 includes an elongated frame 12 having a laterally directed portion 14 at one end, and a handle 16 is suitably secured to the frame portion 14 and extends longitudinally from the latter. The frame 12 is preferably formed with three spaced apart bosses 18, 2t) and 22, and a marking or printing roller 24 is rotatably mounted on the boss 18 which is located at the end of the frame 12 remote from the handle 16. The structure which rotatably supports the marking roller 24 may include a shaft 26 extending into the boss 18 at one end and held in the latter by a set screw 28, with the roller 24 being freely rotatable on the shaft 26. The marking roller 24 includes suitable structure for holding marking elements or type 30 on the periphery thereof, and in the event that rubber type is employed, as is preferred, the holding structure may be formed in accordance with the disclosure of the application for United States Letters Patent of Ira S. Gottscho, Serial No. 219,867, filed April 7, 1951. Bearer rims 32 are provided on the markingroller 24 at the opposite sides of the marking elements or type 30 for a purpose hereinafter described in detail.

The marking device 1% also includes a fountain roller 34 having a porous or absorbent pad 36, for example, of felt and the like, and is constructed in a conventional manner to contain a supply of ink, or other marking fluid, which seeps through and impregnates the pad 36. The fountain roller 34 is rotatably mounted on the frame 12 for rotation about an axis parallel to that of the marking roller 24 but spaced from the latter in'the direction toward the handle 16. The structure rotatably supporting the fountain roller 34 preferably includes a shaft or axle 38 on which the roller 34 is freely rotatable and having a knurled knob 4i at one end. The shaft 38,

at the end thereof remote from the knob 40, is formed with an eccentric extension 42 (Fig. 3') received in a bore of the boss 22, and a set screw 44 (Fig. 2) is provided in the frame .12 toengage the extension 42 and hold the shaft. 38 against rotation. Thus, the shaft 33 can be angularlyadjusted to vary the distance between the axes of rotation of the fountain roller 34 and. the marking roller 24..

.A transfer roller 46, preferably having at least the outer portion thereof formed of rubber, is rotatably mounted on the frame 12 between the

rollers

24 and 34 and in rolling contact with both of the latter rollers. The transfer roller 46, is preferably supported on a shaft 48 extending parallel and similar to the shaft .38 described above. and held now-rotatable in the frame 12 by a set screw 50 (Fig. .2} so that the shaft 48 may be angularly adjusted to vary the: distances between the axis of the transfer roller-46.and theaxes. of the marking and fountain rollers .24 and..34, respectively. Thus, the adjustments provided by the shafts supporting the fountain and transfer rollers permit the. contact pressures between the several rollers to be varied .at will for controlling the thickness of the film of ink deposited on the type 30 by the transfer roller 46. Further, the transfer roller 46 is provided with. bearer rims 52 at its opposite sides, and these bearer rims are preferably separated from the remainder of the surface. of the transfer roller by reduced diameter portions defining annular grooves 54 (Fig. 2) .sothat the inkv deposited on. the central portion of the surface of the transfer roller 46 by theinked pad 36 will not flow onto the bearer rims 52. As seen in Fig. 2., the bearer rims 52-of the transfer roller are dimensioned to effect frictional and rolling contact with the bearer rims. 32 of the marking or printing roller. 'Thus, when the transfer roller 46 is rotated, in the manner hereinafter indicated, the marking roller 24 is rotationally driven by' the rolling contact between the bearer rims .32-and 5.2. Further, the contact between the central portion of the transfer roller 46 and the pad 36 of the fountain roller 34 causes. the latter to rotate in response to rotation of the transfer roller.

In order to guide the marking device along a tubular article being marked and simultaneously effect rotation of the transfer roller 46,. the marking device em- .bodying the present invention includes a guiding and driving roller which is generallyidentified by the reference numeral 56. The guiding and driving roller 56' has a shallow groove SSextending centrally around the periphery thereof and formed with a V-shaped cross-section. in which the conicala surfaces forming the groove are disposed at a large obtuse. angle: relative to each other, as shown. in Figs. 3 and 4-. Further, the guiding and driving roller 56 has cylindrical bearer rims so at the opposite sides of the groove 58, with the axial dimensions and spacing of the bearer rims 60 being substantially the same as the axial dimensions and spacing of the rims 52 on the transfer roller.

The guiding and driving roller 56 is rotatably supported from the frame 12 in. a position below the latter and with the bearer rims 52 on the transfer roller. The structure for rotatably supporting the guiding and driving roller 56 preferably includes a shaft 62, on which the roller 56 is freely rotatable, and a. bracket arm 64 secured at one end on a projecting portion of the shaft extension 42 by a set screw 66- and having the shaft 62 secured in the other end of the bracket arm 64 by another set screw 68 (Fig. 3). By loosening the set. screw 66, the bracket arm 64 may be angularly displaced on the shaft extension 42 for varying the contact pressure between the bearer thus 60 of the guiding and driving roller and the bearer rims 52 of the transfer roller.

lit-employing the marking device 101for applying markings or inked impressions to. anxelongated; tubular. article '70 (Fig. 1.), thehandlc. 16 is. grasped by the operator and the device is moved linearly along thetubular: article with the guiding and driving roller 56 receiving the tubular article in its V-shaped groove 58 (Pig. 4) and rotating as it rolls along the latter. Further, the frame is inclined, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the marking roller 24 is adjacent to the surface of the tubular article 70 and the type 30 applies successive inked impressions or markings to the surface of the tubular article as the marking roller is rotated by the successive engagement of the bearer rims 60, 52 and 32. Since the roller 56 is continuously rotated in response to the movement of the device it). along the article being marked, the marking roller 24 is also continuously rotated and blurring of the inked impression, resulting from intermittent rotation of the marking roller only during the actual marking period, is avoided. By reason of the fact that the groove 58 of the guiding and driving roller is shallow and is defined by conical surfaces which form relatively large obtuse angles with respect to each other, the diameters of the lines of contact on the roller 56 will vary only very slightly for tubular articles of difierent diameters and the peripheral speed at the surface of the bearer rims will always be substantially equal to the actual speed of linear movement of the device along the tubular article being marked so that the marking roller effects true rolling contact with the article being marked and any relative slipping, if it exists at all, is negligible. Further, while the described embodiment of the invention is primarily intended for use in marking tubular articles, it is apparent that it maybe employed for marking flat surfaces and, in that event, the bearer rims 60 of the guiding and driving roller will contact the fiat surface being marked and the roller 56 will function in the manner .hereinbefore described to drive the transfer roller 46 and, through the latter, the marking roller 24.

While an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

I. Ina portable device for marking a tubular article; the combination of a frame movable bodily along an article to be marked, a marking roller for supporting type on the periphery thereof, means rotatably mounting said marking roller on said frame in a position exposing type on the periphery of the roller to printing contact with the surface of a tubular article to be marked, inking mechanism carried by said frame and including an ink transfer roller rotatably mounted on said frame in rolling contact with said marking roller, a combination guiding and driving roller having a central, circumferential groove, and means carried by said frame rotatably supporting said guiding and driving roller out of contact with said marking roller but with the surface portions of the said guiding and driving roller at the opposite sides of said groove in rolling contact with said transfer roller and ina position to effect rolling contact with a tubular article received. in said groove as said frame is moved along the tubular article so that said transfer roller transmits the rotation of said guiding and driving roller to said marking roller while said guiding and driving roller laterally locates said frame and marking roller with respect to the tubular article in said groove.

2. In a device for marking a'tubular article; the combination according to claim 1, wherein said inking mechanism includes a. fountain roller for containing a supply of ink and having a peripherally arranged absorbent pad for distributing ink on said transfer roller, and means rotatably supporting said fountain roller on said frame with said absorbent pad in rolling, contact with the central portion of said transfer. roller between the portions of the-latter'contacted by said guiding. and driving roller so thatthe transfer roller receives ink from said fountain roller and applies such ink to the type on said marking roller.

3. In a hand operated device for marking a tubular article; the combination of a frame movable bodily along a tubular article to be marked and having a handle portion at one end thereof, a marking roller having bearer rims adjacent the opposite sides arranged to support type on the periphery thereof between said bearer rims, means rotatably supporting said marking roller on said frame remote from said handle portion in a position exposing type on the periphery of the roller to printing contact with the surface of a tubular article to be marked, inking mechanism carried by said frame and including an ink transfer roller rotatably mounted on said frame and having bearer rims adjacent its opposite sides in continuous rolling contact with said bearer rims of the marking roller, said bearer rims of the transfer roller being separated from the remainder of the surface of the transfer roller by reduced diameter portions defining annular grooves in the latter, a guiding and driving roller having a central, circumferential groove and cylindrical surface portions at the opposite sides of said groove defining bearer rims, and means carried by said frame rotatably supporting said guiding and driving roller with said bearer rims of the latter in continuous rolling contact with said bearer rims of the transfer roller and in a position to effect rolling contact with a tubular article received in said groove as said frame is moved along the tubular article so that said transfer roller transmits the rotation of said guiding and driving roller to said marking roller, while said guiding and driving roller simultaneously locates said frame laterally with respect to the tubular article received in said central groove thereof.

4. In a hand operated, portable device for marking a tubular article; the combination of an elongated frame movable bodily along a tubular article to be marked and having a handle portion at one end, a relatively large diameter marking roller having bearer rims adjacent the opposite sides thereof and adapted to support type on the periphery thereof between said bearer rims, means rotatably mounting said marking roller on the other end of said frame to expose type on the periphery of the roller to marking contact with the surface of a tubular article to be marked, a relatively small diameter ink transfer roller rotatably mounted on said frame next to said marking roller and having bearer rims adjacent its opposite sides in continuous frictional rolling contact with said bearer rims of the marking roller, said bearer rims of the transfer roller being separated from the remainder of the surface thereof by reduced diameter portions defining annular grooves, an ink fountain roller rotatably mounted on said frame and in continuous rolling contact with said transfer roller between said annular grooves of the latter along a line of contact diametrically opposed to the line of contact of said transfer roller with said marking roller, a combined guiding and driving roller of relatively small diameter having a central, circumferential groove and cylindrical surface portions at the opposite sides of said central groove defining bearer rims, and means carried by said frame rotatably supporting said guiding and driving roiler with said bearer rims of the guiding and driving roller in continuous frictional rolling contact with said bearer rims of the transfer roller and spaced from the bearer rims of said marking roller, said central groove of the guid-in and driving roller being of V-shaped crosssection enclosing a large obtuse angle so that, when a tubular article is received in said central groove, the diameters of the lines of contact of the article with the surface of said groove are substantially equal to the diameters of said bearer rims on the guiding and driving roller and so that, as the frame is moved bodily along the tubular article to be marked, said marking roller is rotated by said transfer roller in response to rolling of said guiding and driving roller along the article while the last mentioned roller laterally locates said frame and marking roller with respect to the tubular article in said central groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 491,046 Fairfield Jan. 31, 1893 663,944 Tilden Dec. 18, 1900 714,835 Tevander Dec. 2, 1902 1,369,450 Manss Feb. 22, 1921 1,496,331 Wheelock June 3, 1924 1,958,717 Schake et al. May 15, 1934 2,186,555 Phillips Jan. 9, 1940 2,326,954 MacAnli-s Aug. 17, 1943 2,371,728 Andrews Mar. 20, 1945