US2923232A - Marking apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2,1960. F. c. WORTH MARKING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' Filed NOV. 28, 1958 INVENTOR Ham/as C WORTH Feb. 2, 1960 F. c. WORTH MARKING APPARATUS 2 Sheats-Sheet 2 Filed Nov; 28, 1958 INVENTOR filW/VC/S C k/ BY M AT ORNEY United States atent MARKING APPARATUS Francis C. Worth, Ridgewood, N.Y., assignor to'Adolpll Gottscho, Inc., Hillside, N.J., a corporation of New York 'Application November 28, 1958, Serial No. 777,134

19 Claims. (Cl. 101-35) This invention relates generally to marking apparatus, and more particularly is directed to a marking apparatus effective to apply markings to successive articles, cartons, containers or the like which are conveyed past the marking apparatus.

Heretofore it has been proposed to provide marking apparatus including a marking roller which is frictionally engaged, and thereby rotated, by spaced apart successive articles, cartons, containers or the like conveyed past the marking apparatus so as to apply inked markings to the articles during rotation by the latter, and further including a repositioning mechanism for returning the marking roller to a predetermined rotational position following its release by a marked article and before its fric tional engagement by the article next conveyed past the marking apparatus, so that the marking roller will be in such predetermined rotational position upon engagement by each article to be marked thereby to ensure that the inked marking will appear at substantially the same location on each of'the successive articles. However, such existing marking apparatus is relatively complicated and not always reliable in operation since the repositioning mechanism is resiliently operated and sometimes tends to cause rebound of the marking roller, particularly when the articles are conveyed at a relatively high speed past the marking apparatus. The existing marking apparatus has the further disadvantage of requiring a marking roller having a circumference which is larger than the dimension of each article to be marked in the direction in which the latter is conveyed in order to avoid the application of repeated markings to each article. Thus, the existing marking apparatus frequently requires replacement of its marking roller when the size of the articles to be marked is changed. Another disadvantage of the described existing marking apparatus is its requirement that the spacing between the successive conveyed articles be large enough to permit the repositioning mechanism to operate on the marking roller while the latter is free of engagement by the articles.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a marking apparatus of simple construction and operation adapted to apply inked markings to successive articles, cartons, containers or the like conveyed past the marking apparatus, and wherein the latter includes an improved mechanism for positively positioning the marking roller at the conclusion of each marking operation so that the markings applied to the successive articles, or the like are accurately located thereon.

' Another object is to provide a marking apparatus of the described character in which the repositioning of the marking roller at the conclusion of each marking operation is independent of both the circumference of the marking roller and the dimensions of the successive articles or the like in the direction in which the latter are conveyed so that articles having different dimensions can be marked without requiring replacement of the marking roller.

-. Still another object is to provide a marking apparatus 2,923,232 Fatented Feb. 2, 1960 of the described character which is effective to apply sharply defined ink markings to the successive conveyed articles or the like even when there is relatively substantial variation in the lateral dimensions of the articles.

A further object is to provide marking apparatus of the described character having a repositioning mechanism for establishing the rotational position of the marking roller at the conclusion of each marking operation, and wherein such mechanism is operative with a relatively small spacing between the successive conveyed articles.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a marking apparatus includes a housing which is adapted to be supported'alongside a conveyor carrying the articles or the like to be marked, and has a removable assembly mounted therein for movement in the directions extending transversely with respect to the path of movement of the conveyor. The removable assembly is resiliently urged in the direction toward the conveyor path and rotatably carries a marking roller having a rotatable body carrying one or more marking elements, bearer rims adapted to be frictionally driven by the article to be marked and friction clutch members between the bearer rims and the body of the marking roller so that the body rotates with the bearer rims so long as such rotation of the body is not positively arrested. The removable assembly further includes a latch device for holding the rotatable body of the marking roller against rotation in a predetermined position, with such latch device being actuated by an article to be marked simultaneously with the engagement of the latter with the bearer rims so as to release the body of the marking roller for rotation with the bearer rims and with the latch device being immediately thereafter returned to a condition for again halting rotation of the marking roller body when the latter returns to its predetermined rotational position.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

(Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a marking apparatus embodying the present invention, with a side wall of the housing of such apparatus being removed in order to expose a removable assembly within the housing, and with a marking roller and an inking roller forming parts of the removable assembly being shown partly in axial section;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the removable assembly included in the apparatus of Fig. ,1, but with the marking roller and the inking roller of such assembly being removed for more clearly disclosing a latch device of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view corresponding to a portion of Fig. 2, but showing the latch device of the marking apparatus in the condition immediately following the release thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4, but showing the latch device in the condition thereof during the application of a marking to the article conveyed past the marking apparatus.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to Fig. 1 v

by the reference numeral 10, includes an upright member or pedestal 12 supported, at its lower end, in a base 14 which is adapted to be secured to suitable framework (not shown) alongside a conveyor C carrying the successive articles A to be marked. The base 14 is preferably formed with elongated slots 16 extending transversely with respect to the path of movement of conveyor C and adapted to receive securing bolts 18 so that the pedestal or upright member 12 can be conveniently adjusted toward and away from the path of the conveyor.

The pedestal 12 supports a housing 20 of generally rectangular configuration which is made upof side walls 22, an end wall 24 and a top wall 26, and the end wall 24 is secured, as by bolts 28, to a split clamp 30 which embraces the pedestal 12 so that the housing 20 extends from the pedestal 12 in the direction toward the conveyor C. and opens outwardly and at its end adjacent the path of the conveyor. The split clamp 30 has a locking screw 32 for tightening the clamp on the pedestal 12, and a collar 34 is preferably slidable on pedestal 12 below split clamp 30 and is provided with a set screw 36 for securing the collar 34 at any desired elevation on the pedestal, and thereby further ensuring that the clamp 30 and housing 20 will remain at an adjusted elevation with respect to the pedestal The apparatus further includes a removable assembly generally identified by the reference numeral 38 (Figs. 1 and 2) and having a base plate 40 of generally rectangular configuration which is adapted to be received between the side walls 22 of housing 20. Pairs of rollers 42 are rotatably mounted on top of the base plate 40, for example, by screws44, adjacent the opposite side edges of the base plate. The rollers 42 project laterally beyond the side edges of plate 40, as is apparent in Fig. 2, and are adapted for rolling engagement in grooves 46 (Fig. l) which are formed in the inside surfaces of the side walls 22 adjacent and parallel to the lower edges of the latter. The grooves 46 open at the end edges of the side walls forming the open end of housing 20. Thus, the rollers 42 can be introduced into, and removed from the grooves 46 at the open end of housing 20 for easy replacement or servicing of the removable assembly 38 and, when the asser'n bly 38 is disposed within the housing 20, the engagement of the rollers 42 in the related grooves 46 permits the dis placement of assembly 38 relative to housing 20 in the direction toward and away from the open end of the latter. In order to reduce the frictional resistance to such displacement of assembly 38 relative to housing 20, the rollers 42 preferably have roller bearings, as shown in Fig. 2.

An upstanding post 48 is secured to plate 40, as by screws 50 (Fig. 2), adjacent the end of plate 40 nearest to the end wall 24 of housing 28, and a longitudinally extendingrod 50 is secured to post 48, for example, by the engagement of a threaded end 52 on the rod in a tapped hole in post 48. An enlarged diameter portion 54 is formed on rod 50 adjacent the threaded end 52 to seat against post 48 and thereby limit the movement of threaded end 52 into the tapped hole of post 48, and the free end portion of rod 50 is also screw threaded, as at 56, and extends with suitable clearance through an open ing 58 in end wall 24. A helical compression spring 60 extends around rod 58 between the enlarged diameter portion 54 and the end wall 24 in order to yieldably urge the assembly 38 relative to the housing 20 in the direction toward the open end of the latter, and a knurled nut 62 is screwed onto the threaded end portion 56 of rod 50 in back ofend wall 24 to adjustably limit the movement of assembly 38 relative to the housing under the influence 'of spring 60. It is apparent that, upon the removal of knurled nut 62 from rod 50, the entire assembly 38 is released for removal from housing 20 at the open end i of the latter.

74 and 76 are mounted on sleeve 68 at the opposite radial faces of body 70 and are free to both rotate and move axially with respect to the sleeve. The bearer discs 74 and 76 have peripheral bearer rims 78 and 80, respectively, of a material, for example, rubber or the like, having a high coefficient of friction with respect to the surface of the article to be marked so that, when the bearer rims are engaged by the surface of a conveyed article A, the bearer rims and the related discs 74 and 76 are positively rotated in response to the movement of the surface to be marked.

In order to provide a frictional coupling between the discs 74 and 76 and the body 70, clutch discs 82 and 84 of a material having a relative high coefficient of friction are mounted on sleeve 68 and are axially interposed between the bearer discs 74 and 76 and the adjacent radial surfaces of body 70. Further, the bearer discs 74 and 76 are urged axially toward body 78 so that the bearer discs and the adjacent radial surfaces of the body 70 are main= tained in frictional contact with the opposite side surfaces of clutch discs 82 and 84. In the illustrated marking roller 64, such axial biasing of bearer discs 74 and 76 toward body 70 is effected by helical compression springs 86 (Fig. 1) which are axially interposed, under initial compression, between the bearer discs and washers 88 which abut against split rings 90 engaging in circumferential grooves formed in the surface of sleeve 68 adjacent the opposite ends of the latter.

In order to mount a marking element or elements on the body 7410f marking roller 64, such body has radially outwardly directed peripheral flanges 92 and 94 at the opposite edges of its cylindrical outer surface, and the flanges '92 and 94 are formed with rims 96 and 98 which are directed axially toward each other. Thus, the flanges 92 and 94 and the rims 96 and 98 cooperate with the outer cylindrical surface of body 70 to define annular grooves or recesses opening axially toward each other and adapted to receive the edge portions. of a logotype or of one or more individual rubber type elements 100 for holding the latter against the surface of bdy 70. Fur-= ther, in order to circumferentially locate the type element or elements 180 on the surface of body 70, metal locating plates 182 are also inserted between flanges 92 and 94 and held by the rims 96 and 98 at the opposite ends of the logotype or of the row of type elements and are secured in position by set screws 104 which engage againstthe surface of body 78. A portion of the rim 98 of body 78 is cut away, as at 106 (Fig. l) in order to permit the insertion and removal of the locating plates 102, and also to facilitate the insertion and removal of the rubber type element or elements 100.

It will be understood that the logotype or row of rubber type elements 100 extends over only a portion of the cir cumference of the body 70, and that the raised marking surfaces of the type elements 100 are disposed approximately the same radial distance from the axis of spindle 66 as the outer peripheral surfaces of bearer rims 78 and 80 so that, when body 70 is rotated with bearer discs 74 and 76 in response to rolling contact of bearer rims 78 and 80 with the surface of a conveyed article, the raised marking surfaces of type elements 180 are also brought into rolling contact with the surface of the article.

Since it is desired that the marking roller 64 apply inked markings to the successive conveyed articles, the removable assembly 38 further includes an ink supplying roller 188 which is freely rotatable on an upstanding spindle 110. As shown in 'Fig. 2, the spindle 110 projects upwardly from a generally triangular plate 112 which is pivotally mounted, as on a screw 114 carried by base plate 4-0, so that plate 112 can rock about screw 114 to 'move the axisof spindle 110 toward and away from the axis of spindle 66 carrying marking roller 64. A bent leaf spring 116 extends between anchor pins 118 projecting upwardly from base plate 40 and, at its opposite ends, engages resiliently against a side edge of triangular plate 112 to yieldably hold the latter in a position where spindle 110 disposes inking roller 108 for transfer of ink from the latter to the raised marking surfaces of the type elements 100 on marking roller 64. However, plate 112 can be rocked about pivot screw 114 in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, to increase the distance between spindles 66 and 110 and thereby facilitate the removal of inking roller 108 from spindle 110.

The inking roller 108 includes a cylindrical, upwardly opening body 120 having a central, open-ended tubular part 122 rotatably receiving the spindle 110 and cooperating with the side wall of the cylindrical body 120 to define an annular ink reservoir therebetween. A wick member of capillary material in the form of a, tube extends up- Wardly from the ink reservoir along the inner surface of the side wall of cylindrical body 120 and is reverted over the upper edge of the cylindrical body in order to extend downwardly over the outer surface of cylindrical body 120 to a radially outward directed flange 126 adjacent the lower end of body 120. An annular inking pad 128 of felt or the like surrounds the portion of wick 124 disposed at the outside of cylindrical body 120 and is held axially in position between flange 126 and a flange 130 formed on the periphery of a cover 132. The cover 132 has a central tapped boss 134 for threaded engagement with screw threads 136 provided on the upper end of the central tubular part 122 of body 120, and a lock nut 138 is engageable with the screw threads 136 above the cover 132 in order to hold the latter in adjusted position relative to cylindricalbody 120. It will be seen that, when lock nut 138 is loosened and cover 132 is turned relative tobody 120, the axial distance between the upper edge of body 120, and the cover 132 will be varied, thereby to alter the constriction of the wick 124 passing therebetween and consequently control the rate at which the wick 124 feeds ink from the reservoir within body 120 to the inner surface of the annular pad 128. Further, it will be understood that the pad 128 is radially dimensioned for rolling contact with the raised marking surfaces of the logotype or'type elements 100 so that, when the body 70 of marking roller 64 is rotated, the rolling contact of the raised marking surfaces of type elements 100 with the outer surface of pad 128 results in the application of ink to the raised marking surfaces for transfer from the latter to the conveyed article.

The cover 132 of inking roller 108 further preferably has a removable filler cap 148 engageable in a threaded aperture in the cover 132 so that, removal of the cap 140 permits replenishment of the supply of ink in cylindrical body 120 without disturbing the adjustment of cover 132.

I By reason of the construction of the marking roller 64 described above, body 70 tends to rotate with the bearer discs 74 and 76 when the rims 78 and 80 of the latter are in rolling contact with the surface of a conveyed article, so that the logotype or type elements 100 would apply repeated markings to such surface. However, if the body 70 is forcibly held against rotation in a position where the type elements face away from the surface of the conveyed article A to avoid marking of the latter, the bearer discs 74 and 76 can slip relative to the body 70" and can continue to rotate by reason of the rolling contact between their rims and the moving surface. Accordingly, the body 70 will rotate to apply a marking to the surface of the conveyed article only when the body is free to rotate and, at that time, the linear speed at the raised marking surfaces of the elements 100 will be exactly equal to the speed at which the surface to be marked is moving by reason of the fact that the body 70 is directly driven from the moving surface. Since rotation of the body 70 can be arrested in an angular position where the type elements 100 are out of contact with the moving surface of the conveyed article, the marking roller can be made to apply a single inked marking to each of the suc.-. cessive conveyed articles even though the dimension of each article, in the direction. in which the latter is conveyed, is substantially larger than the circumference of the marking roller. Thus, articles having a relatively large dimension in the direction in which they are conveyed can have single markings applied thereto with a roller which conveniently has a relatively small diameter. Further, the dimensions of the articles to be marked may be varied without having to replace the marking roller with one having a suitable circumferential dimen- S1011.

Referring now to Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, it will be seen that, in accordance with the present invention, the body 70 of marking roller 64 is releasably held against rotation in a predetermined angular position by a latch 142 which is rockable in a plane parallel to base plate 40 about a pivot pin 144 projecting upwardly from the base plate, and which is adapted to engage in a radially opening keeper notch 146 formed in the rim 98 of body 70. The latch 142 is yieldably urged in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 2,4 and 5, in the manner hereinafter described in detail, so that the latch tends to ride against the periphery of rim 98 and to engage in keeper notch 146 whenever the latter'is circumferentially registered with the latch.

In order to effect release of the latch 142 from keeper notch 146, the removable assembly 38 further includes a latch release device having ,a lever 148 which extends along the end edge of base plate 40 directed toward the path of the conveyor and which is pivoted, as at 150, for rocking movement parallel to the plane of plate 48. The lever 148 has a cam-like projection 152 which normally projects beyond the adjacent end edge of plate 40, as in Fig. 2, and which is engageable by the conveyed article as in Figs. 4 and 5,-in order to rock lever 148 in the clockwise direction from its normal position of Fig. 2.

A stop pin 154 projects upwardly from plate 40 and is engageable by an extension 156 at the free end of lever 148 in order to limit the rocking movement of the latter in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, that is, in the direction projecting the cam-like extension 152 of the lever into the path of the conveyed articles. Further, a lug 158 (Figs. 1 and 2) is secured to the under surface of lever 148 and is movable in a recess 160 (Fig. 2) cut in the end edge of plate 40 so that the engagement of lug 158 with the inner edge of recess 160 defines a limit for the clockwise rocking of lever 148 relative to base plate 40.

A latch releasing member 162, in the form of an elongated leaf spring, is embedded, at one end, in lever 148 and extends approximately at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the lever. The latch releasing spring 162 is positioned and dimensioned so that, when lever 148 is in its normal position and latch 142 engages keeper notch 146, as in Fig. 2, the free end of release spring 162 engages against a shoulder 164 which faces towards lever 148 and is formed on a member 166 turnable with the latch 142.

A tension spring 168 is connected between a pin 170 extending from the member 166 and a rod 172 projecting from the latch release lever 148 so that the tension spring 168 urges lever 148 in the counter-clockwisedirection, as viewed in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, to normally dispose the lever 148 in the position of Fig. 2, where extension 156 of the lever engages stop pin 154, and so that the spring 168 also urges latch 142 in the clockwise direc tion, that is, in the direction moving the end of the latch against the periphery of rim 98 of the marking roller. A stop pin 174 (Fig. 2) projects upwardly from base plate 40 and is engageable by member 166 to limit the rocking movement of the latch 142 under the influence of the spring 168 when the marking roller is removed from spindle 66.

As shown particularly in Fig. 2, the base plate 40 of 7 removable assembly 38 is provided'with lateral guide extensions 176 at the end of the base plate directed to- Ward the path of the conveyor, and the guide extensions 176' have curved faces 178 which form confirmations of the face of the adjacent curved end edge 180 of plate 40. Further, the spindle 66 on which marking roller 64- is rotatably mounted is located relative to the curved end edge 180 so that thebearer rims 78 and 80 of the marking roller and the raised marking surfaces of the type elements 100 carried by the marking roller will be in rolling contact with the adjacent side surface of a conveyed article A as the latter moves past the apparatus 10 in sliding engagement with the curved end edge 180. Preferably, as is shown in Fig. 1, the knurled nut 62 on the threaded end 56 of rod 50 is adjusted so that spring 60 will urge the removable assembly 38 to a position where the center of curved end edge 180 extends into the path of the successive conveyed articles. Thus, as a conveyed article approaches the location of the marking apparatus 10 and lateral movement of the article away from the marking apparatus is prevented by a suitable side fence (not shown), the leading corner of the conveyed article engages slidably against a curved surface 178 and then against the curved edge 180 and progressively urges the removable assembly 38 into the housing 20 against the force of the spring 60, thereby to ensure slidable contact between the curved end edge surface 180 and the adjacent side surface of the article A, and between the latter and bearer rims 78 and 80, during the marking operation even though the lateral dimensions of the successive articles may vary to a substantial extent or the surface to be marked may not be smooth.

Assuming that the body 70 of marking roller 64 is initially locked in an angular or rotational position in which the type elements 100 face away from the path of the conveyor, and that the latch 142 is then engaged in the keeper notch 146 with the free end of leaf spring 162 engaging against the shoulder 164, it will be seen that, as the leading corner of the article first comes into contact with the bearer rims of marking roller 64 in order to effect rotation thereof, such leading corner of the article simultaneously engages the cam-like extension 152 of lever 148 and rocks the latter, as in Fig. 4, so that the spring 162 acts against the shoulder 164 and thereby rocks latch 142 in the counter-clockwise direction for release of the latch from the keeper notch 146. Thus, the latch 142 is released simultaneously with the commencement of rotation of the bearer rims by the article so that body 70 is then freed for rotation with the bearer rims.

As the conveyed article continues its movement, the lever 148 is further rocked, as in Fig. 5, so that the shoulder 164 is no longer at right angles to the longitudinal axis of spring 162 and the free end of the latter is laterally deflected and moves laterally off the shoulder 164, thereby to release the member 166 and the latch 142 for return movement by the spring 166. Thus, immediately after the latch 142 has been released to permit rotation of body 70 with the bearer rims 78 and 80, the spring 166 again becomes effective to urge latch 142 against the periphery of rim 98. However, in the short time interval between the release of latch 142 and the disengagement of spring 162 from shoulder 164, keeper notch 146 has moved out of registration with the latch 142 and the latter rides on rim 98 so that rotation of the body 70 with the bearer rims can continue until a full revolution of body 70 has been completed and the keeper notch 146 is returned to a position of registration with the latch 142.

During the single complete revolution of the body 70 with the bearer rims 78 and 80, the type elements 160 apply an inked impression to the surface of the conveyed article with which the marking roller is in rolling contact. At the conclusion of the complete revolution of body 71 the latch 142 again engages in keeper notch 146 to positively halt the rotation of body 70 in its initial rotational position even though the bearer rims are still engaged and 8 rotated by the adjacent surface of the conveyed article. Thus, upon the engagement of latch 142 in keeper notch 146, the bearer rims 78 and 80 and the bearer discs 74 and 76 may continue to rotate, while the clutch discs 82 and84 slipto permit roller body 70 to be held in its predetermined rotational position.

When the marked article moves out of engagement with the cam-like extension 152 of lever 148, spring 168' returns lever 148 to its original or normal position illustrated in Fig. 2 and, during such return movement of lever .148, the free end of leaf spring 162 is again posi' tioned against shoulder 164 of member 166, thereby to return the parts of the latch release device to their original condition for renewed actuation by the next conveyed article.

It will be apparent that the spacing between the su'ccessive conveyed articles need only be large enough to permit the return of lever 148 to its original or normal position where its cam-like projection 152 projects laterally beyond the edge 180 of base plate 40, and that, by reason of the relatively small mass of the lever 148, such return movement of lever 148 can be rapidly effected. Such rapid return movement of the lever 148 combines with the small size of projection 152 to permit the conveyedarticles to be spaced apart by only small distances, thereby to promote the efiicient utilization of the conveyor.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be effected' therein Without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, except as defined in the appende claims. a

What is claimed is:

1. Marking apparatus comprising a marking roller having a rotatable body adapted to carry marking means at the periphery thereof for marking rolling contact with successive articles conveyed therepast, drive means for said body rotatable by the successive conveyed articles to be marked and transmission means between said drive means and said body normally causing rotation of the latter with said drive means and permitting rotation of the body to be halted while said drive means is rotated by a conveyed article; latch means urged to an operative condition to hold said body against rotation when said body is in a predetermined rotational position; and

latch releasing means actuable by a conveyed article to be marked simultaneously with the commencement of rotation of said drive means by the article to release said latch means and thereby permit rotation of said body with said drive means and then to permit return of said latch means to said operative condition to again halt rotation of said body when the latter returns to said predetermined rotational position.

2. Marking apparatus comprising a marking roller having a rotatable body adapted to carry marking means at the periphery thereof for marking rolling contact with successive articles conveyed therepast, drive means for said body rotatable by the successive conveyed articles to be marked and transmission means between said drive means and said body normally causing rotation of the latter with said drive means and permitting rotation of the body to be halted while said drive means is rotated by a conveyed article; saidbody having a radially opening keeper notch, a pivoted latch member yieldably urged against said body to engage in said notch when said body is in a predetermined rotational position, thereby to hold said body against rotation in said predetermined position; and latch releasing means actuable by a conveyed article to be marked simultaneously with the commencement of rotation of said drive means by the article to displace said latch member away from said body and thereby permit rotation of the. body withthe drive means and, immediately thereafter, to free said latch member for movement against said body so'that said latch member again engages in said keeper notch for halting rotation of said body when the latter returns to said predetermined rotational position. g

' 3. Mar-king apparatus as in claim 2; wherein said latch releasing means includes a pivoted actuating member engageable by the conveyed article to be marked and progressively rocked by the article during the initial rotation of said drive means by the article, an elongated latch releasing element projecting from said actuating member and having a free end which is moved generally in the direction of its longitudinal axis and also laterally deflected in response to the rocking of said actuating member, and means turnable with said pivoted latch member and defining a shoulder facing toward said actuating member to be engaged by said free end of the latch releasing element during the initial rocking of said actuating member for displacing the latch member away from said body, while said free end of the latch releasing element moves laterally off said shoulder upon further rocking of said actuating member, thereby to free said latch member for said movement against said body. 4; Marking apparatus as in claim 3; wherein said latch releasingelement is a leaf spring secured, at onefend, to said actuating member for flexing laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the spring, and wherein said shoulder becomes inclined substantially with-respect to a plane perpendicular to said axis of the spring during said further rocking of the actuating member so that said free end of the spring then tends to flex laterally to ensure its disengagement from said shoulder.

5. Marking apparatus as in claim 2; wherein said drive means includes drive discs disposed at the opposite ends of said body and rotatably and axilaly movable with respect to the latter, said discs having bearer rims frictionally engageable by the conveyed article to be marked for effecting rotation of the discs; and said transmission means includes clutch discs of friction material interposed axially between said drive discs and said ends of the body, and means yieldably urging said drive discs axially toward said body so that said clutch discs tend to rotate said body with said drive discs.

6. Marking apparatus as in claim 2; wherein said body has a cylindrical surface with radially outwardly directed flanges extending along the opposite margins of said surface and terminating in rims directed axially toward each other to define annular grooves opening axial-1y toward each other for receiving the edge portions of type elements constituting said marking means; and further comprising locating plates engageable, at their edges, in said annular grooves and having locking means for securing the lo'cating plates against displacement circumferentially on said body so that type elements between said locating plates are also located circumferentially on the body.

7. Marking apparatus as in claim 6; wherein at least one of said rims of the body has a cut-away portion through which said locating plates can be removed from the related annular groove.

8. Marking apparatus as in claim 2; further comprising an inking roller rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said marking roller and including an upwardly open hollow body defining an ink reservoir and having a cylindrical side wall, a wick member extending upwardly from said reservoir at the inside of said side wall, then over the top edge of the latter and downwardly over the outer side of said side wall, and an annular porous pad extending around said wick member at the outer side of said side wall so as to receive ink from the reservoir by way of said wick member, said axis of the inking roller being disposed relative to said axis of the marking roller so that, upon rotation of said marking roller, the marking means carried by the latter 10 come ,intorolli ig contact with, and receive inktrom, the outer peripheral surface of said annular pad. i 9. Marking apparatus as in claim 8; wherein .said inking roller further includes a cover for said hollow body engageable with said wick member above said top edge of the side wall, and means for axially adjusting said cover relative to saidhollow body thereby to vary the contriction of said wick member between said cover and top edge and correspondingly vary the rate at which the wick member feeds ink from said reservoir to said annular pad.

l0. Marking apparatus for applying markings to successive conveyed articles, comprising support means adapted for mounting adjacent the path of movement of the conveyed articles, a base member, means mounting said base member on said support means for movement relative to the latter in the directions toward and away from the path of the conveyed articles, resilient means urging said base member in said direction toward the path of the conveyed articles, guide means on said base member normally projecting into the path of the conveyed articles and slidably engageable by the latter to move said base member in said direction away from the path against the influence of said resilient means, a marking roller having a body rotatably mounted on said base member andcarrying marking means at its periphery for rolling marking contact with each of the successive conveyed articles as the latter move past the marking apparatus in'sliding engagement with said guide means, drive means for said body rotatable coaxially With the latter and adapted to be frictionally driven by the successive conveyed articles, transmission means normally causing said body to rotate with said drive means and permitting rotation of the latter independent of said body, latch means mounted on said base member and urged to an operative condition to hold said body against rotation when said body is in a predetermined rotational position, and latch releasing means mounted on said base member and actuable by each conveyed article to be marked simultaneously with the commencement of rotation of said drive means by the article to release said latch means and thereby free said body for rotation with said drive means and thereafter to permit return of said latch means to said operative condition for halting rotation of said body when the latter completes a full revolution and is again in said predetermined rotational position.

11. Marking apparatus as in claim 10; wherein said support means includes a housing opening at one end in the direction toward the path of the conveyed articles and having parallel side walls with grooves in the latter opening inwardly toward each other and at said one end of the housing, and said base member is in the form of a generally rectangular plate fitting between said side walls through said one open end of the housing; and wherein said means mounting the base member and the support means include rollers rotatably mounted on said plate and projecting beyond the opposite side edges of the latter for rolling engagement in said grooves of the side walls of said housing.

12. Marking apparatus as in claim 11; further comprising a rod extending from said plate in the direction away from said one open end of the housing and having a threaded end portion, said housing further including an end wall at the end remote from said open end and having an aperture through which said rod slidably extends, and a nut on said threaded end portion of the rod engageable with said end wall to adjustably limit the movement of said base plate in said direction toward the path of the articles :so that, upon removal of said nut, said base plate and the parts mounted thereon can be bodily removed from said housing.

13. Marking apparatus as in claim 12; wherein said resilient means urging the base plate in said direction toward the path of the conveyed articles includes a helical compression spring extending around said rod and bear:-

amass 11 ing, atone end, against an abutment on said rod and, at its-other end,- against said end Wall of the'housi'ng.

Marking apparatus as in claim 10; wherein said body of the marking roller has a radially opening keeper notch, and said latch means includes a latch lever pivot= ally mounted on said base member'and yield'ably urged in the direction moving. the end of the latch lever against said body to enter said keeper notch and hold said body against rotation when the body is in said predetermined position.

15. Marking apparatus as in claim 14; wherein said latch releasing means includes an actuating lever pivotally mounted on said base member and having a cam-like projection normally extending beyond said" guide means for engagement by a conveyed articles'lidably engaging the guide means so as to progressively rock said actuating lever, and cooperating means fixed to said actuating lever and latch lever, respectively, to turn the latter in the direction moving said end ofthe latch lever away from said body during initial rocking of said actuating lever and to release said latch lever for return movement toward said body upon further rocking of said actuating lever.

16. Marking apparatus as" in claim 15; wherein said cooperating means includes a leaf spring projecting from said actuating lever substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the latter, and a member turnable with said latch lever and having a shoulder facing toward said actuating lever for engagement by the end of said leaf spring during said initial rocking of said actuating lever so that said leaf spring transmits the movement of 12 said actuating lever to said latch lever, said end of the leaf spring moving laterally off said shoulder duringsaid further rocking oi the actuating lever, thereby to freesaid latch lever for'saidreturn movement toward said body;

17. Marking apparatus as in claim 16; wherein acommon tension spring means acts on both said latch' lever and said actuating lever to urge the latter in the direction extending" said cam-like projection beyond said guide means and to urge said latch lever in the direction moving' said end of the latter against said body.

18. Marking apparatus as in claim 10; wherein said basemember is inthe form of a flat plate having a first spindle projecting upwardly therefrom to rotatably sup port said marking roller; and further comprising an inking roller, and means rotatably mounting said inking roller on said plate in a position to eiiect rolling contact with, and the transfer of ink to, said marking means on the periphery of said marking roller.

'19. Marking apparatus as in claim 18; wherein said means rotatablymounting said inking roller on said plate includes a mounting. member pivoted on said plate, a second spindle extending upwardly from said mounting member and spaced from the pivoting axis of the latter to move toward and away from said first spindle in re sponse to pivoting of said mounting member, said inking roller being rotatable on said second spindle, and spring.

means engaging said pivoted mounting. member to yieldably hold the latter with said inking roller in said posi-

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