US3139817A

US3139817A - Apparatus for marking articles

Info

Publication number: US3139817A
Application number: US99125A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Raymond O Terry
Original assignee: Western Electric Co Inc
Current assignee: AT&T Corp
Priority date: 1961-03-29
Filing date: 1961-03-29
Publication date: 1964-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 1981-07-07
Also published as: GB996144A; BE615781A

Description

July 7, 1964 R. o. TERRY, JR

APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 29, 1961 INVENTOR ,QA YMO/VO 0. TL /a0); JR.

ATTORNEY y 7, 1964 R. o. TERRY, JR 3,139,817

APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed March 29, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR EA YM0/v0 0. 775?? Y, we

ATTORNEY July 7, 1964 R, o. TERRY, JR

APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nka rch 29, 1961 m T e m J W Y, 2 P m lh 0 0 N F W mm wm m M h QQ I R Y & m B VA n m. H E m a 8 .3 mo m m9 m9 3 Q9 98 a: $9 a: 3 v m9 Q3 0 9 \ww w9 w9 ll mm b\\ Rh Rh ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 7, 1964 o. TERRY, JR

APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed March 29, 1961 United States Patent 3,139,817 APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Raymond 0. Terry, J11, Winston-Salem, N.C., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 99,125 11 Claims. (Cl. 101-37} This invention relates to apparatus for marking articles, and more particularly to a marking mechanism having facilities for intermittently driving a marking roller at various operating speeds.

In the manufacture of electrical components such as deposited carbon resistors, it is necessary to mark the completed product to indicate the important electrical characteristics thereof. With the most recent automated deposited carbon resistor fabricating facilities, it is neces sary to provide automatic printing devices that are compatible in speed and cooperative in action with these facilities for marking great numbers of resistors with proper identifying indicia.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved device for marking articles.

Another object of this invention is to provide an indexing mechanism for driving an article printing device.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved planetary gear driven printing mechanism for applying certain indicia to electrical components.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of facilities for operating at various speeds a planetary gear mechanism that drives an offset printing device.

A still further object of this invention resides in a printing mechanism having facilities for varying the input speed to a planetary gear mechanism that drives an offset transfer roller.

An additional object of this invention resides in a planetary gear mechanism for driving a printing device wherein certain planetary gear elements are locked during a dwell in the advancement of an indexing mechanism that is provided for driving the planetary gear mechanism.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention contemplates an ink supply source and a mark-impressing mechanism mounted on opposite sides of a carrier plate that suppports an inking roller and a transfer roller. A planetary gear mechanism is intermittently driven by a transmission at a first speed to advance the carrier plate. Advancement of the carrier plate advances the rollers relative to the ink source and the mark-impression mechanism for applying an inked impression to the transfer roller and aligning the transfer roller With an article to be marked. The carrier plate conditions electrical control facilities that actuate the transmission for driving the planetary gear mechanism at a second speed. Operation of the planetary gear mechanism at a second speed rotates the transfer roller for marking the article.

A complete understanding of this invention may be had by referring to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an article conveyor and pushrod for supplying articles to be marked to a cradle that supports the articles in a position to be printed by a printing device according to the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing a planetary gear mechanism for carrying and actuating printing elements of the printing device;

FIG. 3 is a partially sectioned side elevational View of the printing device shown in FIG. 1 showing an intermittently driven transmission actuated by a control circuit for driving the planetary gear mechanism at various speeds;

Patented July 7, 1964 FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the control circuit showing switches actuated by the printing device elements for controlling the planetary gear mechaism and the transmission; and

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the transmission shown in FIG. 3 showing a motor rotating an indexing mechanism for intermittently driving the transmission.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown an apertured carrier 10 advanced by a cyclically indexed pair of belts 11 to move an article, such as a cylindrical deposited carbon resistor 12, toward a pushrod 13. The pushrod 13 cooperates with the conveyor 11 to remove the resistor 12 from the carrier 10 and advances it vertically toward a printing or marking device 14 that is supported on a base 15. Upon elevation of the resistor 12 by the pushrod 13, a cam 19 thereon actuates a microswitch 20 that is secured to the base 15. A pneumatic cylinder 21 is actuated by the closing of the microswitch. 20 to pivot a bell crank 22 about a pin 23 in a counterclockwise direction thereby raising a group of four cradle rollers 24 that are attached to the bell crank 22. As the cradle rollers 24 are moved past the pushrod 13, the resistor 12 thereon is transferred to the rollers and subsequently carried to a printing station beneath the printing device 14.

While the resistor rests on the rollers at the printing station, the printing device 14 actuates printing or transfer rollers 29 for marking the resistor. The printing device 14 includes a source 30 of transferable material, such as ink, which is provided in a reservoir 31 in which an inking cylinder 32 is rotated. Means well known in the art, such as a doctor blade, not shown, for controlling the amount of ink transferred to the inking cylinder, may also be provided. The printing device 14 also includes type 35 supported by a mark impressing mechanism 36 that is oppositely disposed from the inking cylinder 32. A planetary gear mechanism, generally indicated by the reference numeral 37, supports and advances ink conveying rollers 38 from the inking cylinder 32 to the type 35 and also supports and advances the transfer rollers 29 from the type 35 to the resistor 12 positioned at the printing station.

Referring to FIG. 2, the planetary gear mechanism 37 includes a shaft 41 that is indexed at a plurality of different speeds. The shaft 41 is supported for rotation relative to the base 15 on

journals

42 and 43. A sun gear 44 is keyed to the shaft 41 for rotation therewith. Roller bearings 45 mounted on the shaft 41 to the left of the sun gear 44 support a carrier plate 48 for rotation relative to the shaft 41. A pair of retaining discs 49 maintain the carrier plate 48 at a fixed axial position on the shaft 41. A plurality of stub shafts 53 are rotatably mounted in bearings fitted in apertures 54 provided in the carrier plate 48. As shown in FIG. 1., three of the stub shafts 53 support the ink conveying rollers 38, and three of the shafts 53 support the transfer rollers 29. Referring again to FIG. 2, the

rollers

29 and 38 are shown fixedly mounted to one end of the stub shafts 53. A trio of planetary gears 52 is keyed to the other end of each of the stub shafts 53 of the conveying rollers 38 and each engages the ring gear 56. -A second trio of planetary gears 55 is keyed to the other end of each of the stub shafts 53 of the transfer rollers 29 and each engages the sun gear 44. Each of the planetary gears 55 also engages gear teeth provided on the internal periphery of a ring gear 56 that is rotatably mounted on the shaft 41 between the sun gear 44 and the journal 42.

The carrier plate 48 and the ring gear 56 each are provided with three apertures 57 and 58, respectively, spaced at into which

locking pins

61 and 62 are respectively advanced. The

locking pins

61 and 62 are mounted on a common bracket 63 that is vertically advanced by a piston rod 69 (shown in FIG. 2). The piston rod 69 is slidably mounted in a pneumatic cylinder 64 that is fixed a support 65. A singled-pole, doublethrow switch 66, having an actuator 68 positioned to cooperate with the bracket 63, is fixed to the pneumatic cylinder 64. The cylinder 64 is actuated during a dwell in the rotation of the intermittently driven shaft 41 at which time the ring gear 56 and the carrier plate 48 are stationary. When the ring gear 56 and the carrier plate 48 are stationary, the

pins

61 and 62 may be freely moved relative to the apertures by downward advancement of the bracket 63 upon actuation of the pneumatic cylinder 64. Downward advancement of the bracket 63 removes the pin 62 from the aperture 58 of the ring gear 56, advances the pin 61into the aperture 57 of the carrier plate 48, and permits movement of the actuator 68 to close one pole of theswitch 66. Removal of the pin 62 from the aperture 53 unlocks the ring gear 56 whereas the pin 61 moving into the aperture 57 locks the carrier plate 48 against rotation. Upward movement of the bracket 63 unlocks the carrier plate 48, locks the ring gear 56 against rotation, and permits the actuator 68 to reverse its position to close the other pole of the switch 66.

When unlocked, the carrier plate 43 is rotated by the interaction of the sun gear 44, the ring gear 56, and the planetary gears 55. One of a trio of cams 7 spaced at 120 (see FIG. 1) mounted on the carrier plate 48 is advanced during rotation of the carrier plate to actuate a switch 71. Rotation of the carrier plate 48 also advances the ink conveying rollers 38 and the transfer rollers 29 in a circular path past the inking cylinder 32 and the type 35. As the

rollers

29 and 38 move in the circular path, they are rotated on their respective axes by the interaction of planetary gears 55 with the ring gear 56.

When the carrier plate 48 is locked by the pin 61 and the ring gear 56 is released by the pin 62, the sun gear 44 rotates the ring gear 56 through the planetary gears 55 whereby the printing rollers 29 and ink conveying rollers 38 are not moved in the circular path, but are rotated with respect to the carrier plate 48 on a fixed axis. Rotation of the ring gear 56 advances earns 74 carried thereby into engagement with a contact arm 75 for actuating a switch 76.

During a printing cycle, the carrier plate 48 is locked in a fixed position with one of the transfer rollers 29 in alignment with a resistor 12 located by the cradle rollers 24 at the printing station. The locked carrier plate 48 also positions one of the ink conveying rollers 38 in alignment with the inking cylinder 32. The drive shaft 41 is indexed and rotates the ring gear 56 through the sun gear 44 and the planetary gears 55. Rotation of the ring gear 56 rotates the aligned ink conveying roller 38 whereby that roller receives ink from the cylinder 32. The aligned transfer roller 29 is rotated through only one revolution so that a clear impression is transferred to the resistor 12.

The drive shaft 41 then dwells and the bracket 63 is advanced to reverse the locking pins 61 and 62. The drive shaft 41 is then indexed and drives the planetary gear mechanism 37 in a non-printing or idling cycle.

During the idling cycle, the ring gear 56 is locked in a fixed position and the carrier plate 48 advances the

rollers

29 and 38 in the arcuate path defined by the ring gear. Each ink conveying roller 38 is mounted on the carrier plate 48 so that the peripheral surface thereof would normally engage a resistor 12 supported by the cradle rollers 24 at the printing station. The control circuits shown in FIG. 4 preclude such engagement by pivoting the cradle 24 to move the resistor 12 from the path of each of the ink conveying rollers 28 after the printing cycle is completed.

Each of the transfer rollers 29 is mounted on the carrier plate 48 so that a printing portion 79 of the surface of the roller engages the resistor 12 during the printing cycle. The transfer rollers 29 are provided with cutouts 36 which are insufiicient in height to engage the inking cylinder 32 during the idling cycle. As the carrier plate 48 advances a transfer roller 29 in the circular path above referred to, the planetary gear 55 rotates the roller on its axis so that the cutout 89, rather than the printing portion 79, is oppositely disposed from the inking cylinder 32. In this manner, the transfer roller 29 does not engage the inking cylinder.

During each idling cycle, an'ink-conveying roller 38 is advanced into rolling engagement with the type 35 to apply a coating of inkthereto as the roller advances through a 120 degree arcuate path from a position A to a position B, shown in FIG. 1. Also during each idling cycle, a transfer roller 29 is advanced through a similar 120-degree arcuate path from position C to position D. During this advancement the transfer roller moves into rolling engagement with the type 35 that was inked during a previous idling cycle.

Thus the shaft 41 must be rotated first, during the printing cycle at a speed that will rotate the transfer rollers 29 through only one revolution on their axes to mark a resistor 12. The ink conveying rollers 38 will be rotated through something greater than one revolution to receive ink. Secondly, the shaft 41 must be rotated during the idling cycle at a faster speed so that the

rollers

38 and 29 are advanced 120 degrees, such as from positions A and'C to positions B and D, respectively. A multi-speed indexing drive 82 is provided for this purpose.

Referringto FIG. 3, the multi-speeddrive 32 includes a motor S3'driving a shaft 84 on which apair of cams 87 and 88 (FIG. 5) is fixed. Rotation of the shaft 84 drives the cams 87 and 855 for actuating

respective switches

89 and 911 in sequence. The shaft 84 also rotates a crank arm 92 of an indexing mechanism 93. Continuous rotation of the arm 92 intermittently rotates a star wheel 94 that is connected through bevel gears to a shaft 95. A cam 96 keyed to the shaft 95, periodically actuates a switch 97. The shaft intermittently rotates a multispeed transmission 98. Gears 101 and 106 provided in the transmission 93 are keyed to the shaft 95 for driving respective gears 1112 and 163 that are each fixed to similar annular-shaped clutch drums 1114 and 1115. Roller bearings 1118 are maintained in spaced relationship by sleeves 1119 and support the

clutch drums

104 and 105 for rotation on the shaft 41. Retaining rings 1111, provided in grooves 111 formed in the clutch drums 104 and 165, abut the bearings 16% for preventing the clutch drums from moving axially with respect to shaft 41.

Electromagnetic coils

115 and 116, provided in the clutch drums 164 and 165, respectively, are actuated alternately through slip rings 117 provided on the outer periphery of the clutch drums. Energization of the left magnetic coil 115 draws a clutch plate 121 to the left into driving engagement with a friction surface 121 provided on the right face of the left clutch drum 164. A key member 122 that is fixed to the shaft 41 is thereby rotated by the left clutch drum 164 through the clutch plate 126 and through a flexible diaphragm 123 that connects the key 122 to the clutch plate 121?. Similarly, energization of the right magnetic coil 116 draws the clutch plate to the right into driving engagement with a friction surface 128 provided on the left face of the right clutch drum 105 for completing a driving connection from the gear 101 to the shaft 41. Depending upon which of the magnetic coils is energized, the shaft 95 will either drive the shaft 41 through the gears 161 and 162 at one gear ratio, 4.15 to 1, for example, or through the gears 111i and 193 at a different gear ratio, 3.11 to 1, for example. In this manner the shaft 41 will be intermittently rotated for driving the planetary gear mechanism 37 at either of the two speeds.

v To commence operation of the apparatus a contact (FIG. 4) of a switch 126 is closed for completing a circuit from a positive battery and a conductor 133 through the motor 83 to ground. The motor 83 is thereby energized for driving the indexing mechanism 93. A description of the operation of the apparatus may begin when the printing device 14 is in the idling cycle. At this time the ring gear 56 is locked and the carrier plate 48 is free to rotate. The indexing mechanism 93 is rotating the multi-speed transmission 98 which is controlled by the left magnetic coil 115 for driving the planetary gear mechanism 37 at the 4.15 to 1 gear ratio. The planetary gear mechanism 37 is rotating the carrier plate 48. As a resistor 12 is elevated by the pushrod 13, the cam 19 on the pushrod closes a contact 130 of the switch 20 (FIG. 4). During elevation of the resistor 12 the carrier piate 48 advances one of the printing rollers 29 toward its printing position D in vertical alignment with the resistor 12 that is positioned on the pushrod 13. The indexing drive 93 then dwells whereby the carrier plate 48 stops with the printing roller 29 located at position D. The cam 70 is thereby positioned by the carrier plate 43 for actuating the switch 71 to close a contact 131. The cam 96 mounted on the shaft 95, that is now in a dwell position, actuates the switch 97 to close a contact 132. Closure of the contact 132 completes a circuit from the conductor 133 through the

closed contacts

130, 131, and 132, and through a solenoid coil 136 to ground. Actuation of the solenoid coil 136 advances a pneumatic control valve 137 to the right for supplying air pressure from a reservoir 138 to the cylinder 21. Admission of air pressure to the cylinder 21 rotates the bell crank 22 whereby the resistor 12 will be removed from the pushrod 13 and advanced by the rollers 24 to the printing station.

Closure of

contacts

130 and 131 also completes a circuit from the conductor 133 through a time delay relay 140 to ground. Actuation of the time delay relay immediately closes a contact 141. The drive shaft 84, which is continuously rotating, then advances the cam 87 into engagement with the switch 89 for closing a contact 142 to complete a circuit through the

closed contacts

130 and 131, through the now closed contact 142, through a solenoid coil 143, and through the now closed time delay relay contact 141 to ground. Actuation of the solenoid coil 143 slides a pneumatic control valve 144 to the left for supplying pneumatic pressure to the upper end of the pneumatic cylinder 64. The piston 69 and thus the bracket 63 are thereby advanced downwardly to unlock the ring gear 56 and lock the carrier plate 48. The actuator 68 of the switch 66 is thereby moved to position a contact arm 147 against a contact 160 for completing a circuit from the conductor 133 through the contact 147 and through the right clutch coil 116 to ground. Actuation of the right coil 116 will thereby draw to the right the clutch plate 120 to effect a driving engagement between the indexing shaft 95 and the shaft 41.

The indexing mechanism 93 then rotates the shaft 95 whereby the shaft 41 will be rotated at the slower speed for rotating the transfer roller 29 one revolution to mark the resistor 12. When the transfer roller 29 has rotated through a complete revolution, the indexing mechanism 93 dwells. The cam 96, mounted on the shaft 95, is now positioned for opening the contact 132 whereby the solenoid coil 136 will be deenergized and the pneumatic valve 137 reversed. The pneumatic cylinder 21 will be thereby actuated to lower the cradle rollers 24 and place the marked resistor 12 on the pushrod 13.

One of the cams 74 is positioned during the dwell by the ring gear 56 to close a contact 1541 of the switch 76 whereby a circuit will be completed from the conductor 133 through the contact 150 and through a second time delay relay 151 to ground. Actuation of the time delay relay immediately closes a contact 152. The shaft 84 then positions the cam 88 for actuating the switch 99 to close a contact 153 whereby a circuit will be completed through the contact 1511, through a solenoid coil 156, through the now closed time delay relay contact 152, and through the closed contact 153 to ground. Actuation of the solenoid coil 156 advances the pneumatic valve 144 to the right whereby air pressure will be supplied from the reservoir 138 to the lower end of the cylinder 64. The piston 69 and thus the bracket 63 will be advanced upwardly to unlock the carrier plate 48, lock the ring gear 56, and reverse the position of or advance the contact arm 14-7 into engagement with a contact 148 of the switch 66. Engagement of the contact 148 by the contact arm 147 completes a circuit from the conductor 133 through the contact 148, through the left clutch coil 115, to ground. Actuation of the left clutch coil advances the clutch plate 129 to the left to effect a driving connection between the shaft 95 and the shaft 41.

The idling cycle then starts when the indexing mechanism 93 indexes to rotate the shaft 41 at the faster speed for advancing the ink-conveying and transfer

rollers

38 and 29 through the degree arcuate path referred to above. The circuit is now conditioned for another cycle of operation, which will be initiated by another advance of the push rod 13.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangement of apparatus and construction of elemental parts are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of this invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In an article marking mechanism, drive means having a unitary output and facilities for changing the speed of said unitary output, mark transfer means having a marking impression thereon, means driven by said unitary output operating at a first speed for advancing said mark transfer means to an article, means rendered effective by said advancing means for actuating said facilities to change the speed of said unitary output, and means rendered effective by said unitary output operating at a second speed for actuating said transfer means to apply said impression to said article.

2. In a mechanism for marking an article, marking means having a marking impression thereon, means for advancing said marking means into alignment with said article, a two-speed gearing means operating at a first output speed for driving said advancing means, means rendered effective by said advancing means for reducing the output of said two-speed gearing means to a slower speed, and means driven by said gearing means at said slower speed for rendering said marking means effective to mark an article.

3. In a marking mechanism, transfer means having a mark impression theeron, intermittent drive means, unitary means driven by said drive means in successive drive and dwell operations means operated by said unitary means in a first drive operation for advancing said transfer means into ali nment with an article, means rendered effective during said dwell operation by said advancing means for locking said advancing means, and means rendered effective by said locking means and actuated during the next successive drive operation by said unitary means for driving said transfer means to apply said impression to said article.

4. In a marking mechanism, a two speed gearing means, roller means having a marking impression thereon planetary gearing, means driven by said two speed gearing means operating at a first output speed for advancing said roller means into alignment with an article, means rendered effective by advancement of said roller means into alignment with said article for actuating said two speed gearing means to reduce the output speed of said gearing means, and planetary gearing means driven by said two speed gearing means operating at the reduced speed for rotating said roller means to apply said impression to said article.

5. In a printing device, means having a marking impression thereon for applying said impression to an article, first drive means, a plurality of meshing pairs of gears driven by said first drive means, second drive means, means for selectively connecting one of said pairs of gears to said second drive means to operate said second drive means at a first speed, means driven by said second drive means operating at said first speed for advancing said applying means from said impressing means to an article, means actuated by said advancing means for rendering said selecting means effective to connect another of said pairs of gears to said second drive means whereby said second drive means is operated at a second speed, and means actuated by said second drive means operating at said second speed for rendering said applying means effective to mark said article.

6. In a marking mechanism, mark transfer means having a marking impression thereon, a shaft, first and second driven gears loosely mounted on the shaft, means for alternately connecting said gears to said shaft to alternately rotate said shaft at different speeds, means driven at a first speed by said shaft for advancing said transfer means into alignment with an article, means actuated by said advancing means for interrupting operation of said advancing means, means actuated by said interrupting means for reversing said connecting means to rotate said shaft at a second speed, means driven by rotation of said shaft at said second speed for actuating said transfer means to apply said impression to said article, and means rendered effective by said actuating means for reversing said interrupting and connecting means.

7. In a printing device, mark impressing means, means having a marking impression thereon for applying said impression to an article, a first driven shaft, a plurality of meshing pairs of gears driven by said first shaft, a second drive shaft, clutch means for selectively connecting one of said pairs of gears to said second shaft to operate said second drive shaft at a first speed, means driven by said second drive shaft operating at said first speed for advancing said applying means into alignment with an article, means actuated by said advancing means for rendering said clutch means effective to connect another of said pairs of gears to said second drive shaft whereby said second drive shaft is operated at a second speed, and means driven by said second drive shaft operating at said second speed for rendering said applying means effective to mark said article.

8. In a printing device having planetary gear means including a carrier plate, a shaft mounted for rotation on said carrier plate, a planetary gear keyed to said shaft, a sun gear in meshing engagement with said planetary gear, a ring gear engaged to said planetary gear, a transfer roller having an impression thereon keyed to said shaft, and means for alternately locking said carrier plate and said ring gear against rotation, the combination with said planetary gear means of multi-speed gearing means connected to said sun gear and conditioned for operation at a first speed by said locking means for advancing said carrier plate to position said transfer roller in alignment with an article, means actuated by the advancement of said carrier plate for reversing said locking means to lock said carrier plate and to unlock said ring gear, means actuated by said locking means reversing for conditioning said gearing means for operation at a second speed, and

means for driving said-conditioned gearing means to rotate said ring gear whereby said roller is rendered effective to print said article.

9. In a marking mechanism, mark transfer means having a marking impression thereon, a shaft, first and second intermittently rotated gears loosely mounted on the shaft, means for alternately connecting said gears to said shaft to alternately rotate said shaft at different speeds, means driven at a first speed by said shaft for advancing said transfer means to an article, means rendered effective by said shaft dwelling for interrupting operation of said advancing means, means actuated by said interrupting means for reversing said connecting means to rotate said shaft at a second speed, means driven by rotation of said shaft at said second speed for actuating said transfer means to apply said impression to said article, and means rendered effective by said actuating means for reversing said interrupting and connecting means.

10. In a printing device having planetary gear means including a carrier plate, a shaft mounted for rotation on said carrier plate, a planetary gear keyed to said shaft, a sun gear in meshing engagement with said planetary gear, and a ring gear engaged to said planetary gear, a transfer roller having an impression thereon keyed to said shaft, means for alternately locking said carrier plate and said ring gear against rotation, the combination with said planetary gear means of a variable speed transmission connected to said sun gear and conditioned for operation at a first speed by said locking means, indexing means for rotating said transmission to advance said carrier plate and said transfer roller, means rendered effective by said indexing means dwelling to position said roller in alignment with an article for reversing said locking means to lock said carrier plate and to unlock said ring gear, means actuated by said locking means reversing for conditioning said transmission for operation at a second speed, and means for driving said indexing means to rotate said ring gear whereby said roller is rendered effective to print said article.

11. In a marking mechanism, a transfer roller having a mark impression thereon, normally ineffective means for rotating said roller to mark an article, continuous drive means including a rotating crank arm, means for advancing the roller to said article, intermittent means including a star wheel driven by said continuous drive means for driving the advancing means and the rotating means to dwell and position said roller at said article, means actuated by the continuous drive means upon said dwell for locking said advancing means and rendering said rotating means effective, and means actuated by said effective rotating means upon said dwell for reversing said locking means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,437,224 Emerson Mar. 2, 1948 2,542,063 Tenety Feb. 20, 1951 2,603,149 Mann July 15, 1952 2,623,452 Emerson Dec. 30, 1952 3,045,588 Jordon et al July 24, 1962

Claims

1. IN AN ARTICLE MARKING MECHANISM, DRIVE MEANS HAVING A UNITARY OUTPUT AND FACILITIES FOR CHANGING THE SPEED OF SAID UNITARY OUTPUT, MARK TRANSFER MEANS HAVING A MARKING IMPRESSION THEREOF, MEANS DRIVEN BY SAID UNITARY OUTPUT OPERATING AT A FIRST SPEED FOR ADVANCING SAID MARK TRANSFER MEANS TO AN ARTICLE, MEANS RENDERED EFFECTIVE BY SAID ADVANCING MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID FACILITIES TO CHANGE THE SPEED OF SAID UNITARY OUTPUT, AND MEANS RENDERED EFFECTIVE BY SAID UNITARY OUTPUT OPERATING AT A SECOND SPEED