US3068785A - Marking apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 18, 1962 F. AHLBURG MARKING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 9, 1956 6 J. E e A R W 2 M m rm WM r {\INM. A in M $8? 2 W A I on 0 3 xfn Q As pm x Dec. 18, 1962 F. AHLBURG 3,068,785

MARKING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 18, 1962 F. AHLBURG MARKING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 s 3 m3 3w INVENTOR. fZA/V/(AMBMG MYW Dec. 18, 1962 F. AHLBURG 3,

MARKING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. fkA/VK 4428mm W Qw llllll/I/IIII/II/I/IJ finite This invention relates generally to marking apparatus and more particularly to marking apparatus for marking produce such as potatoes and fruit.

Marking apparatus for produce is generally placed in the production line and therefore all produce passing through the production line must pass through the marking machine. It is often not desirable to mark all of the produce passing through the production line as for example, when some of the produce is sub-standard or does not fall within a certain grade. For this reason, means should be provided for bypassing the produce when marking is not desired. In the past, marking machines have failed to provide such means.

In general, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved marking apparatus for produce such as potatoes or fruit having means whereby the produce can be bypassed when marking is not required.

Another object of the invention is to provide marking apparatus of the above character having improved die carrying members.

Another object of the invention is to provide a marking apparatus of the above character in which the inking mechanism and the die carrying members are moved as a unit when it is desired to bypass produce.

Another object of the invention is to provide a marking apparatus of the above character in which the pressure between the die carrying members and the inking drum can be adjusted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a markin g apparatus of the above character having an improved inking drum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a marking apparatus of the above character having means for cleaning the dies after they have completed a marking operation and before they come in contact with the inking drum.

A further object of the invention is to provide a marking apparatus of the above character having an improved conveyor.

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

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a marking apparatus incorporating the present invention.

IGURE 2 is a partial side elevational view of the marking apparatus from the side opposite that shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial rear elevational view partly in cross section of the marking apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 with certain parts cut away and showing the die carrying members and the inking drum in their lowermost positions.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 88 of FIGURE 3.

States Fatent EQQ FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of one of the printing tires.

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 11-41 of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a plan view of a portion of one of the printing tires.

FIGURE 13 is a partial view of a modified roller.

As shown in the drawing, my marking apparatus consists of a framework 11 which forms a support for an elevating or conveying assembly 12 and a printing mechanism assembly 13. The printing mechanism assembly consists of a die carrying assembly 14 and an inking drum assembly 16. The framework 11 also provides a support for a die'cleaning assembly 17 and suitable motive or drive means 18.

The framework 11 consists of a stand 21 formed of suitable material such as angle iron members welded together to provide supporting legs 22. A pair of side plates 23 and 24 are fixed to the stand by suitable means such as capscrews 26. Cross members 28 and 29 connect the side plates 23 and 24 to provide a rigid framework.

The supporting framework of the elevating or conveying assembly is also formed of a suitable material such as angle iron members to provide supporting legs 32 and bracing members 33. The conveying assembly 12 is also formed of a suitable framework and consists of angle members 34 and 36 mounted on each side of the conveying assembly. The angle members are fixed to side plates 37 which are fixed to the legs 32.

A plurality of parallel spaced rollers 39 are disposed between the opposite sides of the conveying assembly formed by the angle members 34 and 36 so that their axes are at right angles to the angle members 34 and 36. The ends of the rollers are connected together by links 41 (FIGURE 7) to provide a pair of endless chains 42 and 43 at opposite ends of the rollers.

Angle members 36 form upper guideways for the ends of the rollers and the endless chains whereas other angle members 44 adjustably fastened to the angle members 34 by suitable means such as capscrews 46 form lower guideways for the same purpose.

The lower ends of the endless chains connecting the rollers 39 pass over sprocket wheels (not shown) fixed to a shaft 48 which is journalled in bearing blocks 49. The bearing blocks 49 are slidably mounted in guide structure 50 and are adapted to be moved longitudinally of the side plates 37 to cause tightening or loosening of the endless chains by a suitable arrangement 51 such as shown in the drawing which consists of bolts 52 mounted in the guide structure and threaded into internally threaded members 53.

The upper ends of the endless chains are adapted to be driven by and pass over sprocket wheels 54 as hereinafter described.

The rollers 39 making up the conveying means each consist of a hollow cylindrical shaft 56 having end pins 57 mounted therein and adapted to be inserted in the ends of the links 41 as shown in FIGURE 3. A plurality of members 59 are mounted on each of the shafts 56 and spaced axially thereof. The members 59 can be formed of a suitable resilient material such as rubber and are formed in such a manner as to provide a higher central portion 59a equidistant from the ends of the member. The members are also formed to provide tapered portions 5% which slant inwardly from the central portion towards the shaft 56 and with portions 59c which also slant inwardly towards the shaft 56 but at a greater angle than portions 5%. The members 59 are also formed with tubular portions 59d. The members 59 are spaced in such a manner that a relatively small portion of the shaft is exposed between each of the two adjacent members for a purpose hereinafter described.

Members 62 of a suitable resilient material are provided oneach end of the shaft 56. It will be noted that each of these members is similar to a one-half portion of the members '59. Members azure adapted to be engaged by rotation imparting means .64 and 66 as shown in FIG RE 7.'

Rotation imparting means 64- consists of angle members 67 extending the length of the conveying assembly on both sides of the conveying assembly and are pivotally connected to the'framework for the conveying assembly by suitable means such as capscrews 68. As shown in FIGURE 7 the upper ends are fastened to side plates as which are fastened to the angle members 36 by suitable meanssuch as welding. One surface of each of the angle members 67 is provided with a strip 71 of suitable friction material such as sponge rubber. As can be seen from FIGURE 7 the strips 71 of friction material are movable between a roller rotating and an out-of-the-way position by tightening and loosening of the capscrews 68.

When rotation imparting means 64 is in the roller engaging position as shown in FIGURE 7, the rollers 39 will be rotated in a clockwise direction When the endless conveyor 12 is moved in a clockwise direction as yiewed in FIGURE 4. If it is desired to have the rollers rotate in a counterclockwise direction while the endless conveyor is being rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 4, rotation imparting means 64 is moved out of engagement with the member 62 to out-ofthe-way positions by loosening the 'capscrews 58. Rotation imparting means as is then swun from its'o'ubofthe-way p osi-tion into a roller engaging position as shown by the dotted lines in FIGURE 7 to engage the top surfaces of themembers 62 to cause counterclockwise rotation of the rollers 39 as the endless conveyor is rotated in aclockwise direction. 7

As can be seen from the drawing, rotation imparting means 66 consists of strips 72 of suitable friction material such as sponge rubber which are fixed to hinged members 73. Hinged members 73 are fixed to wooden protective ledges 74 which are mounted on the side plates 69 and 37 by suitable means'such as screws 76 It is apparentfrom the foregoing that when an endless conveyor is rotating in one direction the rollers comprising the endless conveyor can be made to rotate in the same or opposite direction by the rotation imparting means at and 66 for a purpose hereinafter described.

It will be noted that rotation is only imparted to the rollers 39 from a point beginning at. the end a of side plates'37 and terminating at a point adjacent side plates 69 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The sprocket wheels '54 used for driving the endless conveyor are fixed to a crossshaft -79 which'is suitably journalled inside plates 23 and 24 of the framework 13.

' Shaft 79 is driven by the drive means 18 which can consist of a motor 81 and a speed reducer 82. A sprocket f' .wheel-Slqjis mounted on the output shaft of the speed reducer 82 and drives a chain belt 84 which drives a sprocket 85 mountedon shaft 79. g A pair of circular plates 36 are jco axiall'y aligned on thefshaft 79 and are fixed to the side plates 23 and 24.

An. annular rim 87 is mounted on each of the circular,

platesfefd and'serves to-prevent theendless chains 42 and 43 from becoming'disen'gaged from the sprocket wheelsd i.

' rollers in a direction opposite to the direction --in which A plurality of star wheels 88 are fixed to the cross shaft :79 andunderlie the die carrying assembly-14 for a purpose hereinafter described. The starwheelsare substant ially paddle -shaped and areprovided with web-shaped articlessupporting members 88a which are adapted to extend between the rollers as shown in FEGURE 3 to provide support for the produce as it is marked "as hereinafter described.

Theoperation of the conveying assembly may now be biiefiy describedes followsr 'Let' it be assumed that the V in the same direction being continuously fed onto the conveying assembly 12.

Since the members 59 on the roller are aligned laterally and longitudinally potatoes or fruit placed thereon will align themselves and will come to rest in the recesses between four adjacent members. As the endless conveyor is moved in a clockwise direction, the rollers 39 including the members 5 will be rotated in' a clockwise direction by the rotation imparting means 64. It has been found that rotation of the rollers during movement-causes the potatoes or fruit to be alig'ue'dso that their longer or longitudinal axes are parallel to the axes of the rollers 39. Thus, by the time the potatoes or fruit reach the upper ends of the conveying assembly 12 they will be spaced laterally and longitudinally in accordance with the spacing between members 59. In addition, they will 'be positioned it is desirable that the potatoes or fruit be held on a relatively stationary position with. respect to rotation about their own axes.

It has been found that when the rollers 39' are rotated as the endless conveyor is rotated there is a tendency between certain of the rollers particularlyat the point'9l when rotation of therollers is terminated. It will'be'evident from viewing FIGURE 4 that 'if the rotation o'f'one roller in a clockwise direction has been terminated and rotation of another roller assembly is continued that there will be a tendency tourge the fruit or potatoes between these two rollers. This has been found to be particularly true of small fruit such as lemons.

H Therefore, when marking lemons and-other small'produce, it has been found to be desirable to rotate tie the endless conveyor is being rotated. In my apparatus this is accomplished by moving the-rotation imparting means 64out of engagement with the member-s62 and swinging the rotation imparting means 66 intoengagement with the members 62. As explained previously, this will cause rotation of the rollers in an'opposite direction. By rotating the rollers in this manner, it has been found that there is no longer any tendency for the rollers to urge small fruit such as lemons between the rollers. The tubular portions 5% on the members 59 have been provided for the purpose of holding small potatoes and fruit in a position equidistant between the members '59 to facilitate marking as hereinafter described. 7

As "described previously, the printing mechanism assembly 13 cons ists of a die carrying assembly 14' and an inking drum assembly 16 The die carrying assembly 14 and the inking drum assembly 16 are both mounted in a pair of side plates 89 and91. Side plates 89 and 91' are movable vertically with respect to side plates '23 and 24 and are slidably mounted thereon by pin and 'slot connections 92. The side plates 89 and 91 are'adapted' to be moved vertically by a mechanism'consisting-of a shaft 96 rotatably mounted on the side'plate 23 andprovidedwith a one-half portion having right hand threads. and another one half portion having left hand fthr'eads. A pair of trunnion nuts 97' are mounted on-opposite. half portions ofthe threaded shaft 96. The trunnion nuts $7 engage arms 98 which are fixed to shafts 99 rotatably for the rollers to urge the produce 7 It is apparent that as the hand wheel 1% fixed to the shaft 96 is rotated in one direction or the other the side plates 89 and 1 and the die carrying assembly and printing drum assembly mounted thereon will be lowered or raised with respect to the side plates 23 and 24 and the conveying assembly carried thereby.

The die carrying assembly 1 1 is shown particularly in FIGURE 3 and consists of a shaft 111 journalled in side plates 89 and 91 and on which are fixed a plurality of die carrying members or tires 112 of resilient material such as rubber and formed in the shape of inflatable annuluses. The shaft 111 is provided with a plurality of spaced annular grooves 113, two grooves being provided for each the 112. The tires 112 are provided with tubular extensions 11% having ribs 116 adapted to be seated in the grooves 113. After the tires 112 have been slipped onto the shaft 111 so that the ribs 116 are in the appropriate grooves 113, the tubular extensions 114 are fixed to the shaft by suitable clamping means such as a clamp 117, a detail of which is shown in FIGURE 9.

A plurality of holes 118 are provided in the shaft 111 and are spaced longitudinally along the shaft in such a manner that one hole opens into the interior of each of the tires 112 to permit filling the tires with air and maintaining a predetermined pressure within the tires as hereinafter described.

A valve 119 is mounted on the shaft 111 to permit filling the tires 112 with air at a desired pressure. A gauge T21 is also mounted on the shaft so that the pressure within the tires may be readily determined.

The outer periphery of the die carrying members or tires 112 are formed with annular U-shaped channels 124 as shown particularly in FIGURE 12. The tires 112 are also formed with studs 126 which are spaced around the periphery of the tires in the channels 124.

A belt 127 is adapted to be mounted on each of the tires 112 in the channels 124-. The belt is provided with holes 128 which are adapted to cooperate with the studs 126. Thus, the channels 124 serve to prevent lateral movement of the belt and the studs 126 prevent rotational movement of the belt with respect to the tire. The belt 127 is formed of a suitable resilient material such as rubber and is provided with a fabric reinforced back 129. A plurality of recesses 131 are formed in the belt and are spaced along the length of the belt between the holes 128. The recesses are adapted to accommodate dies 132. The dies are formed of a suitable resilient material such as plastic and are comprised of a body portion 132a which is of sufficient thickness to extend for a substantial distance above the recess 131 to facilitate grasping of the dies so that they may be readily removed and placed in the recess. The die is also provided with a flanged portion 13212 which extends around the body of the die and is adapted to be engaged by overhanging lips 133 formed on the belt adjacent are also provided with a top portion 132s which bears the letters or insignia with which it is desired to mark the produce.

it is apparent that the dies 132 may be readily removed and inserted into the recesses 131 merely by deforming the belt adjacent the recesses to accommodate the dies.

It has been found that the leading edge of each die is subject to more wear than the rest of the die and for that reason the belt 127 is portions 13-1 which are of a height substantially the same as the top portion 132c. The raised portion 134 can be formed on either side of the die depending upon the direction of rotation of the die. The raised portion serves to reduce the wear on the leading edge of the die and thus serves to substantially increase the life of the die.

The inking drum assembly 16 consists of a shaft 141 iournalled in the upper ends of the side plates $9 and 91. The right hand bearing assembly for shaft 141 as viewed in FEGURE 3 is shown particularly in FIGURE 6 and recesses 131. The dies formed with raised inclined I consists of a pair of slide guides 14-2 which are fixed to the side plates 91 by suitable means such as welding. The slide guides are provided with guide grooves 143 which are adapted to receive lips 144 formed on a sliding block 146. The sliding block 146 accommodates a ball bearing assembly 147 having inner and outer races 14% and 14%. A cam support 151 is mounted in the inner race 14%. The outer race 149 of the bearing assembly 147 is held in position by a member 152 which is fixed to the sliding block 1% by suitable means such as capscrews 153. The inner race of the ball bearing assembly is held in position by nuts 154 threaded onto the inner portion of the cam support 151.

Cam support 151 is provided with an outer flanged portion 151a on which a cam sprocket 156 is mounted by suitable means such as capscrews 157. Annular grooves 158 are formed between the cam sprocket 156 and the flanged portion 151a of the cam support and are adapted to loosely accommodate lips 159 formed on a bearing member 161. A bushing 162 of suitable material such as bronze is mounted within the bearing member 161 and provides a support for the shaft 141.

A cam drum 164 is mounted adjacent the outer margin of the cam sprocket 156 by suitable means such as capscrews 156 and is provided with a cam surface 167 which will cause cyclic axial oscillation of shaft 141 by means of a cam follower 1%. Cam follower 163 consists of a cam follower arm 169 which is fixed to one end of the shaft 141. The other end of the cam follower arm is provided with rollers 171 which are adapted to engage the cam surface 157.

The left hand mounting for the shaft 141 as viewed in FTGURE 3 is shown particularly in FIGURE 5 and consists of slide guides 173 which are fixed to the side plates 83 by suitable means such as welding. The slide guides 173 are provided with lips 174 which are adapted to cooperate with guide grooves 17% in a sliding block 177. A self aligning ball bearing assembly 17 8 having an inner race 179 and an outer race 181 is mounted within the sliding block 177. A sprocket support member 182 is mounted in the inner race 179 and is provided with an outer flanged portion 1312a.

The inner race 179 of the ball bearing assembly 178 is held in position adi cent the flanged portion 18202 of the sprocl-iet support member 132 by a not 183 threaded on the inner end of the sprocket support member 132. A bushing 184 is provided in the support member 132 and rotatably and slidably carries the shaft 141. An inking drum sprocket 136 is mounted on the flanged portion 1320: by suitable means such as bolts 187. A pair of drive keys are fastened to two of the bolts 1'87 and are mounted in recesses 139 which extend diametrically of the sprocket Wheel 1%. The drive keys are provided with extensions 18% which are adapted to slidably engage xeyways 191 in the shaft 141.

A compression spring 1% is mounted on the end of the shaft 1 1 adjacent the sprocket wheel 136 for a purpose hereinafter described. The inner end of the spring is held in position by an inner spring cup 19 and is fixed to the drive keys 183 by suitable means such as capscrews 1%. The outer end of the spring is held in position by an outer spring cap 197 which is fixed to the shaft 141 by nut It is apparent that the spring 1% continually urges the shaft towards the left as viewed in FIGURE 3 against the action of the cam follower 16%.

An inking drum 291 is mounted on the shaft 141 between the side plates 8% and and consists of a tubular member 2112- which is wrapped with many layers of an inking ribbon 2%. The inking ribbon can be of any suitable material such as a pre-inkcd paper. The inking ribbonis wrapped onto the member M2 in the same direction that the member is rotated during operation. The end of the ribbon is held on the member ZdZ by suitable means such as staples 2114. A pair of end .drive means '18.

g on the side plate 23. 1

members 265 mounted on the shaft 141 serve to carry the tubular members 202. One end member 205 is fixed to the shaft 141 by a removable pin 2% Whereas the other end member is engaged by a capstan out 287 threaded on the shaft 141. The capstan nut 267 is used for compressing the tubular member 202 between the end members 2-15 to hold the tubular member in place.

Since the inking ribbon is wrapped onto the tubular member 2422 in the same direction that the tubular member 2fi2 is rotated, there will be no tendency for the ribbon to unwrap during operation of the marking apparatus. When the outer surface of the inking ribbon has given up most of its ink and it is desired to expose fresh inking ribbon, it is merely necessary to remove the staples 204 and unwind two or three wraps of the inking rib-hon and tear that portion of the inking ribbon from the tubular member 282. The staples 2% may then be replaced. In this manner, a new and fresh inking surface can be exposed whenever desired.

Means is provided for adjustin the vertical position of the inking drum 261 with respect to the position of the die carrying assembly 1 -and consists of a threaded shaft 208 which is rotatably mounted on the side plate 39. A trunnion 209 is mounted on the threaded shaft 208 and is pivotally connected to. the ends of links 211.

The other ends of the links are pivotally connected to an arm 212 which is fixed to one end of a shaft 213 rotatably mounted on the side plates 89 and 91.' The other end of the shaft 213 is fixed to an arm 214 adiacent side plate 91. Arms 2112 and 214 engage sliding blocks 177 and 145 respectively and it is apparent that as the hand wheel 216 mounted on the shaft 208 is ro tated the sliding blocks 146 and 177 will be raised and lowered with respect to the die carrying assembly 14.

The inking drum assembly and the die carryng 21556111 bly 14 are driven by a chain belt 219. The main belt 215$ engages the sprocket 186 which drives the shaft 141 and the inking drum 2131 mounted thereon. The chain belt 21 also engages a sprocket Wheel 2221 which is fixed to the shaft 111 and serves to drive the die carrying assembly 14. The chain belt 219 is driven by a sprocket wheel 222 which is fixed to the cross shaft 79. As explained previously, the cross shaft 79 is rotated by the A pair of idler assemblies 223 and 224 are mounted A Idler assembly 223 consists of a substantially diamond-shaped idler plate 226 which is pivotally mounted on side plate 23 at 227 and is formed with a: slot 223 which is adapted'to cooperate with a pin 229 mounted on one of the liftingarms 162. An

idler sprocket wheel 231 is rotatably mounted on the idler plate 226 opposite the pivot point 227 and engages the chain belt 2159 to urge it into engagement with the sprocket wheel 221. V

Idler assembly 224 consists of an idler plate 233 of substantially triangular shape which is pivotally mounted on another of the lifting arms 192 at 234. A pair of sprocket wheels 23621116 237 are rotatably mounted 'on the idler plate 233.011 opposite sides of the pivot point 234.. The end of the idler plate 233 opposite the end on which the idler sprocket Wheel 237 is mounted is 7 connected by a spring 238 to one end H of the idler plate 226 of'the idler assembly 223.

Idler assembly 22 acts as a. spring loaded take-up idler for the chain belt 219 and serves to maintain it in a relatively taut condition. 7

The position of'the idler sprocket wheel 231 is determined by the pin 229 in'the lifting arm '192and serves to prevent the chain belt 219 from coming out of engagemerit with the sprocket wheel 221 and thereby serves to 'm-aintain the correct timed relationship between sprocket wheels 221 and222.

The cam sprocket wheells vused for driving thec'am a 7 decreased and itwill drum 164 is driven by a chain beltz242. The chain belt sprocket wheel 243 whichj is fixed 'to pivotally mounted on one of ink is transferred to the dies.

A die cleaning assembly 17 is mounted on the framework 1 1 and consists of an angle member 255 which is t fixed to the side plates 89 and 91 so that it will be moved V vertically when the side plates 89 and 91' are moved vertig shaft 79 on the end opposite the end on which sprocket wheels 222 and 86' are fixed. An idler assembly 244 for maintaining the chain belt 242 in a relatively taut condition is mounted on the side plate 24 and consists of an idler plate 246 substantially triangular in shape and the pins used for making the pin slot connections 92. A pair of idler sprocket wheels 247 and 248 are rotatably mounted on opposite ends of the idler plate 246. A spring 249 has one end connected to the end of the idler plate 246 adjacent the sprocket wheel 248 and the other end is fastened to a pin 251 on one of the lifting arms 102. a

The ratio of the sprocket wheels 156 and 2 53 for driving the cam drum 164 is such that the cam drum 154 is driven at a speed slightly different from the speed that the shaft 141is driven. It is apparent that the ratio of the speeds of the shaft 141 to the cam drum 164 determines how many times the cam follower 168 will rotate with respect to the cam drum 164 during a predetermined number of revolutions of the printingrdrum 201. For example, assume that the shaft 141 makes 364 revolutions for every 363 revolutions made by the cam drum 164. When this occurs, it is apparent that the cam follower 168 will make one'cornplete turn relative to the cam drum 164 during every364 turns of the inking drum 201 to cause axial oscillation of the shaft 141 and the inking member 281 mounted thereon to cause a fresh inking surface to be presented to the dies 132 every time they are inked. During the first half revolution of the cam follower 168 with respect to the cam 164, the shaft 141 and the inking drum 291 will be moved to the right as viewed in FIGURE spring 193 until the inking drum is in a position adjacent the side plate 91. During the other half revolution of the cam follower 168 with respect to the cam 154,.the shaft 141 and the drum 261 are allowed to return to the extreme left position as viewed in FIGURE 3 under the force of spring 193.; r 7

By'rotation and oscillation of the inking drum 201, fresh surfaces are presented to the dies 132 so that they will always be adequately'inked. This movement of the inking drum 201 also causes maximum utilization ofthe inking ribbon 202. When the dies 132 fail to receive sufficient ink from the inking ribbon, several layers of the inking ribbon can be torn from the inking drum as I previously described to provide a new inking surface.

By operation of the hand wheel 216 it is possible to vary the pressure between the dies 132 to cause the proper amount of'ink to be transferred to the dies. Also as the inking ribbon 262 is used up, the diameter'of the inking ribbon will be gradua'ly hand wheel 216 so that at all times a proper amount of cally. A plurality of brackets 257 are fixed to the angle member 256 and carry mounting block s 258. The brackets 257 and the mounting blocks 258 are spaced 'along the length of themember256 and provide a support for a pipe 259/ The nozzles 261 spaced along the length thereof in such a 'manner that the nozzles are in line with the dies 132 on pipe carriesa plurality of the. tires 112. 'The pipe 259 is adapted to be rotated.

77 in the mounting blocks 258 and held in a predeterm ned position by suitable means such as the nozzles 261 is provided with a restricted orifice-(not shown) which will direct a jet of air passing therefrom.

One end'of the pipe 259 is closed (not shown) ,and

the other end is connected to a coupling 263. The cou pling 263.is connected by a hose 264 (FIGURE 9)=to a", i t V 'camvalv'e assembly26d: Th i al -"i' 3 against the inking ribbon 2G2 and the V be necessary to gradually lower the inking drum and adjust it relative to the dies 132 by the.

screws 262.] Each'of v mounted on the framing member 256 by suitable means such as a bolt 267. The cam valve assembly 266 is also connected by hose 268 to an air pressure regulator 269 (FIGURE 1). The air pressure regulator 269 is connected by a pipe 271 to a solenoid operated valve 272. The solenoid operated valve is connected to a source of air pressure (not shown) by a pipe 273. The solenoid operated valve is connected by a conduit 274 to the motor 81 and is wired to the electrical system for operating the motor in such a manner that the solenoid operated valve turns oil the air supply when the motor is not running.

The cam valve assembly 266 is of a type well known in the art and is such that when the cam follower 277 is moved to the left as viewed in FIGURE 8, air is permitted to enter the hose 264 to pass into the pipe 269 and out the nozzles 261. The cam follower 277 is adapted to be operated by a cam wheel 273 fixed to shaft 111.

The cam wheel is provided with raised portions 27811 which are spaced on the periphery of the cam wheel 278 the same as the dies 132 are spaced on the belt 127. The cam valve assembly 266 is operated each time the cam follower 277 engages one of the raised portions 278a to permit air to enter the pipe 259. Thus, it is apparent that at predetermined intervals jets of air will pass from the nozzles 261 and engage the tires 112. By means of the cam wheel 278 the jets of air are so timed that they will strike the dies 132 and blow off any dirt or moisture that may have been carried away from the produce when it was engaged by the dies.

A discharge platform 281 is mounted on an extension of the cross member 28 and is provided with a surface 282 of suitable resilient material such as rubber.

Operation of my marking apparatus may now be briefly described as follows: Let it be assumed that handwheels 106 and 216 have been adjusted so that the parts are in a proper operating relationship. Let it also be assumed that produce such as a plurality of potatoes is being continuously emptied onto the conveying assembly 1'2. As explained previously, the operation of the conveying assembly will elevate the potatoes and at the same time will align the potatoes laterally and longitudinally. The conveying assembly will also align the potatoes so that their longitudinal axes are parallel to the axes of the rollers 39.

The operation of the conveying assemblies is in a timed relationship with respect to the rotation of the die carrying assembly 14 so that each time a row of potatoes comes into position underlying the tires 112 a row of dies 132 mounted on the tires will come into engagement with the tires to mark the potatoes. During the marking operation, the star wheels 38 provide a firm base for the potatoes and prevent the potatoes from being forced between the rollers by the marking dies. The star wheels also serve to lift the potatoes above the rollers so that the potatoes can rotate on their axes relative to the rollers. This makes it possible to mark potatoes of various diameters without smudging the potatoes and also facilitates ejection of the potatoes after they are marked and prevents the potatoes from being lodged between the rollers and carried with the rollers.

The tires 112 are readily deformable to accommodate potatoes of various sizes as shown in FIGURE 4. The dies 132 are also formed of a flexible resilient material so that they will accommodate any indentations in the potato. This insures that the potato will be properly and completely marked.

The air pressure in the tires may be maintained at any desired pressure, however, it has been found that about two pounds of air pressure is very satisiactory. As explained previously, the interiors of all t..e tires are interconnected so that the pressure in all of the tires will be uniform. This makes it possible for the marking apparatus to accommodate potatoes of many different sizes.

For example, let it be assumed that a very large potato is passing under one of the tires. This will cause a major deformation of the tire, however, the marking pressure will not be much greater than if a small potato were passing under the tire because the air would be forced from that tire into the other tires making very little change in the overall air pressure in all of the tires.

As rotation of the conveying assembly 12 and the printing tire assembly 14 continues, the marked potatoes Will be discharged onto the discharge platform 281 after which they may be packaged in a conventional manner.

The next row of potatoes is then presented for marking with the next succeeding dies 132 on the tires 132.

During the time that the dies 132 are marking potatoes, they may pick up some of the moisture and dirt which may be present on the potatoes. This will make it difficnlt for the die to pick up ink from the inking drum assembly 16 and for that reason the die cleaning assembly 17 has been provided. Therefore, a short time after the dies have been used for marking the potatoes, a jet of air is passed over them from the nozzles 261 in a timed relationship as explained previously. The jets of air serve to clean any moisture or dirt that may cling to the dies.

After the dies have been cleaned, they come in contact with the inking drum assembly 16 and receive ink therefrom in the next marking operation. As also explained previously, the pressure between the tires 112 and the inking ribbon 262 can be varied by rotation of the handwheel 216. As also explained previously, each die receives a fresh inking surface because of the rotational and oscillatory movement of the inking drum 2%.

When it is not desired to mark the potatoes or fruit coming up the conveying assembly 12, the entire printing mechanism assembly 13 comprising the printing tire assembly and the inking drum assembly may be raised away from the conveying assembly by rotation of the handwheel 1% which raises the side pates 89 and 91 and the parts connected thereto as hereinbefore described to bypass the potatoes and prevent marking.

By means of handwheel 1% it is possible to adjust the position of the tires 112 relative to the conveying assembly 12 to accommodate different sizes of potatoes or different kinds of fruit. For example, when it is desired to mark a fruit such as lemons, the tires 112 are moved to a position which is closer to the conveying assemby 12. g

In FIGURE 13, I have shown another embodiment of a roller which can be used in the conveying means 12. The roller consists of a shaft 236 provided with a plurality of annular grooves 237 having one width and a plurality of annular grooves 238 of a greater width. A ring or annular member 289 is mounted in each of the grooves 287 and is formed of a suitable resilient material such as rubber. A ring or annular member 291 of a substantially greater outer diameter than one of the members 291 is mounted in each of the grooves 288. It will be noted that a pair of members 239 is mounted between each pair of adjacent members 291 and that the members 289 and 291 are spaced from each other.

In operation, the large oblong potatoes of the type shown at 292 are engaged by the outer larger members 291 and the smaller and round potatoes of the type shown in dotted lines at 293 are engaged by the members 289. The smaller annular members 289 serve to properly center the smaller potatoes to facilitate their marking.

It is apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a new and improved marking apparatus which is suit able for marking many different kinds of produce such as potatoes, citrus fruits and the like. The apparatus is particularly advantageous in that it will accommodate many different sizes of produce with little if any adjustment. Produce may also be moved through the apparatus without marking when desired.

'the same direction as the drum is rotated, a cam drum,

said shaft being slidably and rotatably mounted in said drum, a cam follower mounted on said shaft and adapted to engage said cam drum, means mounted on said shaft for continuously urging said shaft in one direction and urging said cam follower into continuous engagement 7 with said cam drum, said cam drum being contoured to cause cyclic axial oscillation of said shaft, and means for causing rotation of said cam drum at a slightly different speed from the rotation of said shaft and said inking drum.

2. in a marking apparatus for produce of the type having a marking station, conveying means for moving produce through the marking station, an inking drum andmarking means adapted to receive ink from the inking drum to mark the produce as it passes through the marking station, said marking means comprising a shaft, 2. pluralityof inflated deformable annular members mounted on said shaft in spaced relation, a plurality of dies mounted on each of said members and spaced about the periphery thereof, and means interconnecting the interiors of said inflated members to placesaid members under a common pressure.

, 3. In a marking apparatusrfor produce of the type having a marking station, conveying means for moving produce through the marking station, an inking drum and marking means adapted to receive ink from the inking drum to mark the produce as it passes through the marking station, said marking means comprising a hollow shaft having closed ends, 'a plurality of inflatable deformable annular members mounted on. ,said shaft in spaced relation, said shaft being formed with spaced openings in communication with the interiors of said members whereby said members are under a common pressure, and a'plurality of dies mounted on said members and spaced about the peripheries thereof.

4. Inna marking apparatus for produce, a frame, a marking station disposed within said frame, die carrying membersrotatably carried by said frame at said marking station, an inking drum rotatably carried by the frame and da'apted to be engaged by the dies, and conveying means mounted on said frame and adapted to carry" produce through the marking station, said conveying means comprising a plurality of spaced parallel rotatable rollers, means for advancing the rollers, a pairof strips pivotally mounted on said frame and independently movable between roller engaging and out-of-the-Way positions, one of said's-trips when in engagement with said rollers serving to rotate the rollers in the same direction as the direction in which the rollers are being advanced,

the other of said strips when in engagement with said rollers serving to rotate the rollers in the opposite direction from the direction in Which the rollers are being advanced. j

5. In" a marking apparatus for produce, a frame, a marking stationQdisposed Within said frame, die carrying membersrotatably carried by said frame at said marking station, "an inking drum rotatably carried by the frame and adapted tobe engaged by the dies, and conveying means mounted on said frame and adapted to carry produce through the marking station, said conveying means comprising a plurality of spaced parallel rollers, each of the rollers consistin of a shaft, a plurality of spaced 1 pairs of annular ringsef resilient material mounted on 1 said shaft, and additional spaced pairs ofannular rings of resilient material mounted on said shaft, one of said:

7 .1? additional pairs being mounted in the space between rings of each of said first named pairs of annular rings, said additional pairs having an outer diameter substantially less than the outer diameter of said first named pairs of annular rings. 7 V

6. in a marking apparatus for produce, a frame, conveying means mounted on said frame and adapted to carry produce through a marking station, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, die carrying members mounted on said shaft and adapted to engage the produce for marking of the same as it passes through said Sta.- tion, an inking drum rotatably carried by the frame and adapted to engage the dies, a plurality of nozzles carried by the frame, one of the nozzles being disposed adjacent each of the die carrying members, an air supply, a valve assembly connecting said air supply to said nozzles, a cam member mounted on said shaft, and a cam follower engaging said cam member and connected to said valve assembly whereby upon rotation of said shaft and the die carrying members said valve assembly will be operated to cause the application of a jet of air to each of the dies on the die carrying members. after each of the dies has completed a marking operation and before it is inked by the inking drum. V

7. in a marking apparatus for produce, the combination of conveying means for advancing articles ofproduce in parallel lines and in parallel lateral rows to a marking station; a frame means at said marking station comprising upstanding spaced end frame portions; a carrier plate slidably mounted on each upstanding end frame portion for vertical movement relative thereto; a diecarrying means rotatably mounted on said carrier plates in operable relation to said conveying means at said marking station; an inking means above said die-carrying means and in cooperable relation therewith; means for mounting said inking means on said carrier plates for rotation and for reciprocal axial movement relative to said die-carrying means; means for moving said carrier plates for raising and lowering said die-carrying means and said inking means as a unit with respect to said mark- .ingstation; and means for moving said inking means relative to said die-carryingme-ans and to said carrier plates. a

8. An apparatus as stated in claim 7 wherein said conveyor means includes a plurality of parallel rotatable roller members, each of said roller members having axially spaced, resilient pocket-forming elements there on, each elementserving to form with adjacent elements on its own member and on immediately adjacent roller members a plurality of pockets, each pocket lying between two adjacent roller members. a

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 51,774 Adams' Dec. 26, 1865 223,337 Gmeiner "Jan. 6, 1880 609,007 Butler Aug. 16, 1898 626,284 Lyons .June 6,=1899 904,312 Davidson Nov. 17, 1908 1,038,022 Sundstrom Sept. 10,1912 1,193,297 Porcher Aug. 1, 1916. 1,348,330 Stoltman Aug. 3,1920 1,501,817 Sevigne July 15, 1924 1,592,806 Brunell July 13, f1926 1,611,679 Roes Dec. 21, 1926 1,656,494 Nutt et a1. Jan. 17, 1928 1,730,302 Smith" Oct. .1, 1929 1,812,942 'Gainese J uly 7, 19.31 1,992,347 Bartlett Feb. 26, 1935 2,040,525 Mumrna et a1. 1,. May 12,1936 7. 2,267,661 Meyers Dec. 23, .1941 2,335,164 Wayland et al.l Nov, 23, 1943 f reerences on feiiowing page) I a 13 UNITED STATES PATENTS Paxton et a1. Sept. 25, 1945 Verrinder July 15, 1947 Page Nov. 21, 1950 Magnuson Dec. 4, 1951 Giori Nov. 17, 1953 Fenstermaker Dec. 8, 1953 Ballard et a1. Dec. 9, 1953 14 Lorence Aug. 2, 1955 Schwisow Mar. 4, 1958 Amori Mar. 18, 1958 Van Buskirk May 13, 1958 Long July 22, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS Australia June 15, 1937

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