US3209688A - Article-registering means for a decorating machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 5, 1965 J. w. ELDRED ETAL ARTICLE-REGISTERING MEANS FOR A DECORATING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 15,

% gTORNEYS Oct. 5, 1965 J w, ELDR D ETAL 3,209,688

ARTICLE-REGISTERING MEANS FOR A DECORATING MACHINE Filed March 15. 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l a g INVENTORS E 3 JOHN w. ELDRED JAMES B. LEGG BY MAHONEY, MILLER & RAMBO way ATTORNEYS Oct. 5, 1965 J. w. ELDRED ETAL ARTICLE-REGISTERING MEANS FOR A DECORATING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 15, 1965 Zfia INVENTORS JOHN W. ELDRED JAMES B. LEGG w MW AE m 0 W EZA H. E NW B A United States Patent 3,209,688 ARTICLE-REGISTERING MEANS FOR A DECORATING MACHINE John W. Eldred and James B. Legg, Columbus, Ohio, as-

signors to The Eldred Company, Columbus, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 439,905 Claims. (Cl. 101-407) This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Ser. No. 279,289 filed May 9, 1963 for Decorating Machine, now matured into Patent Number 3,181,457 dated May 4, 1965.

Our present invention relates to an article-registering means for a decorating machine. It has to do, more particularly, with article-registering means embodied in a decorating machine of the silk screen and squeegee type which applies decorations, usually in multicolors, to the surfaces of various articles and especially hollow articles such as glass tumblers or the like. This present invention deals with improvements on the article-registering means of the general type disclosed in our copending application Ser. No. 279,289, now matured into Patent Number 3,181,457 dated May 4, 1965.

The present invention provides a registering means which will be rendered inoperative by any abnormal operation of the machine so as to prevent excessive binding or breakage of parts of the registering means in the event of such malfunction. However, the registering means is of such a nature that it may be quickly and easily restored to operative condition when the malfunction has been corrected.

The improvements constituting this invention are illustrated in their preferred form embodied in a glassware decorating machine shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic plan view illustrating generally a decorating machine and the registering means of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 showing the registering means of this invention in association with an articlesupporting spindle of the machine.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and illustrating normal operation of the registering means.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a detail in enlarged section taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an axial sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a top elevational view of the registering means shown in FIGURE 3 but illustrating abnormal conditions as compared to FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 8 is a top elevational view showing the registering means similar to the showing in FIGURE 3 but with the parts thereof reversed axially on the spindle.

A decorating machine to which this present invention may be applied is illustrated generally in FIGURE 1. It is of a general structure like that disclosed in our Patent No. 3,096,709 which issued on July 9, 1963 and is indicated generally by the numeral 100. The machine may be loaded with articles to be decorated, such as the tapered tumblers T, and the decorated articles may be removed therefrom in any suitable manner. The decorating machine is of the intermittently indexing turret type and is designed to be loaded with successive tumblers T, with the tumblers in an upright position, between the intervals when it is intermittently indexing. The machine 100 rotates in a clockwise direction, as indicated in ice FIGURE 1, being driven intermittently to index the angularly spaced spindle assemblies thereof. During this step-by-step rotation, the spindle assemblies 105 are moved from a vertical dependent position at the loading station B to a horizontally or radially extending position as the machine rotates to and past successive decorating stations C, D and E and finally back to a depending position at the unloading station F.

Each spindle assembly 105 comprises an inner supporting hinge bracket 330 and an outer chuck-assembly section 331 which is hingedly connected to the bracket '330 and is vertically swingable relative thereto about a transverse horizontal pivot axis 332. As previously indicated, the section 331 is adapted to be in a dependent position at the loading and unloading stations B and F (FIG- URE 1) and in a horizontal or radially extending position with its axis aligning with the radial horizontal axis of the bracket 330 as it passes the decorating stations C, D and E. Vertical swinging movement of each spindle section 331 is controlled by means of a cam following roller 430 (FIGURE 2) which cooperates with a cam (not shown) that extends around the axis of the turret as described in said patent. Also, as described in said copending application, registering means is provided for registering the article on each successive spindle assembly properly with the screens at each successive decorating station C, D and E. This registering means is illustrated in its entirety in FIGURES 2 and 3.

This registering means includes a gear 342h which is carried by and rotates with a sleeve 346 that carries the chuck (FIGURE 2) upon which the article T is supported. This gear meshes with a rack 331d carried on each of the screen frames 5460 which are carried by supporting brackets 528 by means of upwardly yielding plunger units 331e. Each rack 331d meshes with the registering gear 34271 when the outer or chuck assembly section 331 is raised about the pivot 332 into association with the screen at any of the successive decorating stations. Thus, registration is effected, as disclosed in said application, by a gear that rotates with the article supported on the chuck assembly and which engages a rack on the screen frame to drive the article-supporting chuck as the associated screen is moved about its pivot 527 shown in FIGURE 1.

As disclosed in our copending application, the sleeve 346 is normally locked in a sleeve 343 (FIGURE 6) by means of a pin and slot connection 347a. The sleeve 343 (FIGURES 2 and 6) is rotatably mounted in the sleeve housing 331k of the chuck assembly section 331 by means of the ball bearings 344. Also as disclosed in said application, a torsion spring 343d normally tends to keep the sleeve 343 in an initial stopped or registered position relative to the sleeve housing 331h which rotatably carries it. This spring 343d is anchored at its inner end to the sleeve 343 by a pin 343a and is anchored at its outer end 343 to a cap 331 which surrounds the sleeve 343 for relative rotation but is fixed to the sleeve housing 331h. Thus, as the sleeve 343 is rotated in one direction in the sleeve housing 3311i, it winds up the spring 343d and the spring, in subsequent unwinding, will always return the sleeve 343 to its original stopped or registered position relative to the sleeve housing 331k due to a stop arrangement to be described. For successive spindles, the spring 343d will be reversed so that in one spindle clockwise rotation will wind up the spring and in the next counterclockwise rotation will wind it up.

The registering means also includes (FIGURES 2-7) a stop member shown as a flanged collar 342a fixed on the inner end of the sleeve 343 and the flange 342h of which carries, in the arrangement shown, a stop portion or pin 34% extending from the inner face of the flange and at a right angle thereto. This stop pin 342b is adapted to cooperate with a stop portion or pin 342a (FIGURE 6) which is carried on the inner face of a stop member in the form of an internally threaded nut or collar 342d and which fits on the threaded exterior of the collar 342a, the latter serving as a feed screw member for engaging the inner threaded socket of the nut member 342d. These stop pins are engaged (FIGURES 4 and 5) by unwinding of the spring 343d to determine the initial position or registering position of the article on the spindle. The collar 342d normally is prevented from rotating (FIGURES 3 and 4) by a spline connection which includes a tongue or key 342e which extends inwardly from a bracket 331g fixed to one arm of the yoke 331a and cooperates with a keyway or slot 342 in the periphery of the collar. The collar 342a and the sleeve 343 are keyed together by a key 342g (FIGURE 4). Thus, the nut or collar 342d will move axially on the threaded collar 342a when the sleeve 343 is rotated in its housing 33112 since the collar 342a is rotated but the collar 342d is prevented from rotating. On successive spindles 105, the stop assembly including the collars 342a and 342d and the bracket 331g will be reversed on the inner end of the sleeve 343 in accordance with the reversal of the spring 343d, as indicated by a comparison of FIGURE 8 with FIGURE 3. Thus, in each spindle assembly rotation of the sleeve 343 by the screen rack 331d to wind up the spring 343d will feed the collar 342d in such a direction that the pins 34212 and 3420 will move out of contact (FIGURE 6). The axial movement of the collar 342d relative to the collar 342a will permit the pins to miss after one revolution so that the article can rotate more than one revolution in rolling contact with the screen which will permit an overlap on the article of the design applied thereto. Since the screen oscillates and decoration occurs each time the screen moves over the article in either direction, the article will be driven in opposite directions at each successive screen. This is the reason for providing for reversal of the stop pin assembly and the torsion spring. Under normal conditions, as soon as the rack 331d is released from the gear 34211, the spring 343d will return the collars 342a and 342d to their original relationship where the stop pins 342b and 342c will contact and will properly position the article carried by that spindle assembly for proper registration with the next screen. The stop collar assembly may be easily positioned on the sleeve 343 in either indicated position by means of the key 342g and the plug 342.

If the spring 343d fails to return the collars 342a and 342d to their original stopped relationship, due to breakage or other malfunction of the spring, the continued step-by-step rotation of the turret would continue to cause the successive rotation of each of the sleeves 343 of the spindle assemblies in the one direction only and would not return it. Unless some means were provided to prevent it, this would cause jamming or breaking of parts such as jamming of the collar 342d against the adjacent part of the bearing 344 at the corresponding end of the sleeve housing 331/1. However, according to this invention, means is provided for preventing this and the operation of this means will be apparent from a comparison of FIGURES 6 and 7.

It will be noted that the tongue 342a is of a width substantially one-half the width of the collar 342d and the corresponding length of the keyway 342]. As long as conditions are normal, the collar 342d will be rotated about one and one-quarter revolution before being returned by the spring. This moves the collar 342d toward the bearing 344 but at this time the tongue 342a will still be in the keyway 342 as shown in FIGURE 3. However, if the spring does not return the collar 342d to its registered position, it will continue to move axially toward the bearing 344 at successive stations of the turret. This axial movement will move the tongue 3421: out of the keyway 342], as shown in FIGURE 7, and the collar 342d will thereafter be freely rotatable so that it can rotate with the collar 342a and will not jam against the bearing 344 since the distance between the edge of the key and the bearing 344 is sufiicient to accommodate the collar 342d without interference so that the collar 342d can rotate with the collar 343. Thus, there is a safety device provided which guards against malfunction of the spring 343d and associated parts to prevent jamming or damage to the registering mechanism. To restore the mechanism to normal condition, the collar 342d is repositioned manually so as to again locate the keyway 342f over the key 342s. When the parts are reversed, as in FIGURE 8, the collar 342d will move axially to the right upon rotation by the successive engagement of the rack and gears and if it moves too far, the tongue 342a will move out of the keyway 342], freeing the collar 342d. In this instance, the safety device prevents movement of the collar 342d olT the end of the member 342.

It will be apparent from the above that this invention provides a registering mechanism which functions under normal conditions but which will be rendered inoperative under abnormal conditions. The mechanism is simple yet effective and can be readily reset after the safety means thereof permits disengagement of the spline connection.

Various other advantages will be apparent.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is:

1. In combination, an article support rotatable about an axis, means for positioning the article support at an initial selected registering position about said axis, said means comprising a feed screw rotatable with the article support, a stop member fixed to said feed screw for rotation therewith about said axis, a stop nut threaded on said feed screw and positioned axially adjacent said stop member, said stop member and said stop nut having stop portions which project towards each other and are normally angularly engaged, means for nor-mally preventing bodily rotation of said nut about the axis of said screw, said means comprising an angularly fixed support adjacent said nut, and an interengaging spline connection between said nut and said support of limited axial extent so that upon rotation of the article and the feed screw in one direction, the stop nut will move axially away from the stop member to move the stop members thereof angularly out of contact and axially into noninterfering positions with the spline connection still in engagement but continued rotation of the feed screw in the same direction producing continued axial separation of the stop nut and stop member will move said spline connection axially out of engagement.

2. In combination, an article support rotatable about an axis, means for positioning the article support at an initial selected registering position about said axis, said means comprising a feed screw rotatable with the article support, a stop member fixed to said feed screw for rotation therewith about said axis, a stop nut threaded on said feed screw and positioned axially adjacent said stop member, said stop member and said stop nut having stop portions which project towards each other and are normally angularly engaged, means for normally preventing bodily rotation of said nut about the axis of said screw, said means comprising an angularly fixed support adjacent said nut, and an interengaging key and slot between said nut and said support, said key and slot being of limited axial extent relatively so that upon rotation of the article support and the feed screw in one direction, the stop nut will move axially away from the stop member to move the stop portions thereof angularly out of contact and axially into non-interfering positions with the key and slot still in engagement but continued rotation of the feed screw in the same direction producing continued axial separation of the stop nut and, stop memher will move said key and slot axially out of engagement.

3. In combination, an article support rotatable about an axis, means for positioning the article support at an initial selected registering position about said axis, said means comprising a feed screw rotatable with the article support, a stop member fixed to said feed screw for rotation therewith about said axis, a stop nut threaded on said feed screw and positioned axially adjacent said stop member, said stop member and said stop nut having stop portions located radially outwardly of said screw and which project axially towards each other and are normally angularly engaged, means for normally preventing bodily rotation of said nut about the axis of said screw, said means comprising an angularly fixed support adjacent said nut, and an interengaging key and slot between said nut and said support, said key and slot being of limited axial extent relatively so that upon rotation of the article support and the feed screw in one direction, the stop nut will move axially away from the stop member to move the stop portions thereof angularly out of contact and axially into noninterfering positions with the key and slot still in engagement but continued rotation of the feed screw in the same direction producing continued axial separation of the stop nut and stop member will move said key and slot axially out of engagement.

4. Structure according to claim 3 in which said key and slot comprises a slot formed in the periphery of said nut and extending completely therethrough parallel to the axis of the screw, and a key carried by said support and extending in a radial direction into said slot.

5. Structure according to claim 4 in which the key is of a width substantially less than the length of said slot.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,721,516 10/55 Campbell et al 101126 X 3,146,704 9/64 Johnson 101126 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN COMBINATION, AN ARTICLE SUPPORT ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS, MEANS FOR POSITIONING THE ARTICLE SUPPORT AT AN INITIAL SELECTED REGISTERING POSITION ABOUT SAID AXIS, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A FEED SCREW ROTATABLE WITH THE ARTICLE SUPPORT, A STOP MEMBER FIXED TO SAID FEED SCREW FOR ROTATION THEREWITH ABOUT SAID AXIS, A STOP NUT THREADED ON SAID FEED SCREW AND POSITIONED AXIALLY ADJACENT SAID STOP MEMBER, SAID STOP MEMBER AND SAID STOP NUT HAVING STOP PORTIONS WHICH PROJECT TOWARDS EACH OTHER AND ARE NORMALLY ANGULARLY ENGAGED, MEANS FOR NORMALLY PREVENTING BODILY ROTATION OF SAID NUT ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID SCREW, SAID MEANS COMPRISING AN ANGULARLY FIXED SUPPORT ADJACENT SAID NUT, AND AN INTERENGAGING SPLINE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID NUT AND SAID SUPPORT OF LIMITED AXIAL EXTENT SO THAT UPON ROTATION OF THE ARTICLE AND THE FEED SCREW IN ONE DIRECTION, THE STIP NUT WILL MOVE AXIALLY AWAY FROM THE STOP MEMBER TO MOVE THE STOP MEMBERS THEREOF ANGULARLY OUT OF CONTACT AND AXIALLY INTO NONINTERFERING POSITIONS WITH THE SPLINE CONNECTION STILL IN ENGAGEMENT BUT CONTINUED ROTATION OF THE FEED SCREW IN THE SAME DIRECTION PRODUCING CONTINUED AXIAL SEPARATION OF THE STOP NUT AND STOP MEMBER WILL MOVE SAID SPLINE CONNECTION AXIALLY OUT OF ENGAGEMENT.

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