US3241482A

US3241482A - Hand stamps

Info

Publication number: US3241482A
Application number: US318960A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold P Keck
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-10-25
Filing date: 1963-10-25
Publication date: 1966-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 1983-03-22

Description

March 22, 1966 H. P. KEcK 3,241,482

HAND STAMPS Filed Oct. 25, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 22, 1966 H; p, KECK 3,241,482

HAND STAMPS Filed oct. 25, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Cilice 3,241,482 Patented Mar. 22, 1966 3,241,482 HAND STAMPS Harold l. Keek, 421i Charlotte St., Crystal Lake, Ill. Filed Oct. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 318,960 6 Claims. (Cl. lill- 103) This invention relates to improvements in hand stamps.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a hand stamp which operates through a short stroke, that is, the printing unit is moved from non-printing to printing position in a relatively short movement, thereby increasing the speed with which the stamp may be operated, reducing the pressure necessary to perform the stamping operation, and increasing the life of the stamp.

By virtue of the short stroke or movement of the printing unit from non-printing to printing position less pressure is required on the part of the operator to perform the stamping function, which permits products and objects to be stamped which are fragile and which are packaged in containers which would not lend themselves to stamping by virtue of the pressure against them, and also permits the stamping of soft packages.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hand stamp in which the printing unit is enclosed and in which the type bands are operated by levers so that at no time does the operators hands or ngers engage any of the type bands, either in setting the type bands or in the operation of the printingr stamp. This feature prevents the soiling of the hands and lingers and prevents any accidental soiling or ink smudging of merchandise by reason of any portion of the stamp resting against such packaging, and also preserves the printed characters and extends their life by reason of the fact that the surfaces of the type bands are not manually engaged.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved type of inking means for a hand stamp in which the ink supply is fed to the ink pad to provide an even distribution of ink available for use when needed and also to provide an ink pad which by the nature of its physical characteristics provides a resilient quality necessary for long and eicient operation.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a hand stamp of the depressible type utilizing this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational View of the lower portion of the hand stamp of this invention, taken on lines 2--2 of FIG. 3, and showing same in non-printing position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view partly in section of the lower portion of the hand stamp.

. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing the main frame;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational View corresponding to FIG. 2 but showing the printing unit depressed as when printing, with the inking mechanism retracted;

FIG. 7 is a view partly in section showing particularly the inking mechanism;

FIG. 8 is an exploded View in perspective of the members comprising the inking mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the inking mechanism with the parts assembled;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the strip forming the ink pad, and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional View taken on lines 11-11 of FIG. 8.

Referring rst to the construction shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 inclusive, the stamp comprises a main base frame generally indicated at 12 and a depressible sub-frame generally indicated at 14. The depressible sub-frame carries the printing unit generally indicated at 16.

The main base frame 12 has a pair of side members 18 connected by a top cross member 19. A bottom plate 20 is secured to the side members 18 and the bottom plate 2l) has an enlarged rectangular shaped opening 22 to accommodate the printing unit on the down stroke or printing position. Secured to the top cross member 19 of the main base frame 12 and extending upwardly thereof is a stem 24. The side members 18 of the main base frame are each provided with a vertically extending slot 26 within which ride the

detachable fastening pins

28 and 29 securing the printing unit 16 to the depressible subframe 14, to be subsequently described. The side members 18 of the main base frame extend outwardly along one edge thereof to provide an extension 30 which has an opening 31 to accommodate a pin 32 which pivotally supports the inking unit, generally indicated at 34, to be described. The side members 18 each have an arcuate shaped slot 36 extending inwardly of the opening 31 in which ride the pin 38 on the inking unit 34.

The depressible sub-frame 14 has a pair of spaced sides 4t) joined by a top cross member 41. The cross member 41 has a Central opening 42 and extending over said opening and secured to said cross :member of the depressible frame is a tubular handle 44 having a knob 45 at the upper end. The stem 24 extends into the tubular handle 44 and a coil spring (not shown) is positioned in the tubular handle, acting against the stem 24 for the purpose of normally maintaining the depressible sub-frame 14 in its elevated position, as shown in FIG. 1. This is conventional in the art.

The sides 40 of the depressible frame member 14 each have an outward and downward extension 46 and formed in each said extension is a slot generally indicated at 48. The upper portion 49 of the slot extends vertically and communicates with an angularly inclined end slot portion 50. The general configuration of the slot 48- in profile is similar to a hockey stick.

The mechanism of the printing unit generally indicated at 16 is of the construction shown in my prior Patent No. 3,099,955, and my co-pendiing patent application led July 30, 1962, Serial No. 213,327, now Patent No. 3,164,086. In said patent and in said application the type bands 53 of the printing unit are dotated by a selector mechanism which is claimed in said aforementioned patent and which will not be redescribed, except to point out that the levers of said selector mechanism are herein shown and are designated by the numeral 52. Each of the levers 52 operates through the means, including the ratchet wheel 55, shown in said patent and patent application, to rotate and reset or position a particular type band 53. The levers 52 are operated so that on their down stroke from the position shown in FIG. l they will override the means for rotating the type band, but, on the upstroke of the lever 52 the pawl operated by said lever engages the ratchet wheel 55 to rotate the type band 53 through the gearing arrangement shown in said patent application.

The mechanism of the printing unit referred to, including the means for operating the type band, is enclosed in a housing generally indicated at 54 which is closed except for the spaced vertical slots 56 in the front of the housing and except for the bottom rectangular shaped opening 57 in the housing. The slots 56 in housing 54 permit the levers 52 to extend therethrough and to be manually engaged for actuating same. The bottom opening 57 of the housing exposes the printing end of the type bands to permit them to make their impression when the depressible sub-frame 14 is depressed, and also permits the ink pad to engage the printing end of the type bands when in non-printing or undepressed position.

The length of the slots 56 permits the levers 52 to be moved or rotated so that a single upstroke movement of lever 52 will change the type band a single increment. This is possible by reason of the elements shown and described in the aforementioned application in conjunction with the slot shown herein. Due to this arrangement the operator in resetting the type band need not visually observe the position of the lever or the printing band but knows that each time the lever is moved upwardly its full length until it is stopped by the end of the slot that the type band is being reset by one increment. The down stroke of the lever 52 does not change the type band.

The printing unit 16 has three cross shafts which support the gears on which the type bands 53 are rotatably mounted. The shafts are secured to end mounting plates 59 which provide a supporting framework for the mechanism of the printing unit 16. The printing unit is suitably supported in the housing 54 and the end mounting plates 59 engage the inside of the side walls 58 of the housing 54. The side walls 58 of the housing each has a vertically extending rib or boss 60 extending outwardly thereof. The sides 4t) of the depressible sub-frame 14 are provided with spaced openings which accommodate the

pins

28 and 29 secured to said sides. The Shanks of said pins extend through the vertical slots 26 in the side walls 18 of the main frame 12, with the ends of said pins threadedly anchored or otherwise secured to the ribs 60 of the housing 54 within which is contained the printing unit. Thus, as the handle 44 is depressed the depressible sub-frame 14 moves downwardly and with it the printing unit 16, including the housing 54 thereon, with the

pins

28 and 29 riding in the vertical slots 26 in the side walls of the main stationary frame 12. The pins or fastening

members

28 and 29 are detachably secured to the housing 54 to permit ready attachment and detachment of the housing 54 (and the printing unit) with respect to the depressible sub-frame 14.

Secured to move with the depressible sub-frame and to be operated by the movement thereof is the inking unit generally indicated at 34, which is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 7 to 11 inclusive. The inking unit 34 includes a rectangular shaped container generally indicated by the numeral 62, from the sides of which exend upwardly a generally T-shaped extension 64. The cross portion of said extension is provided with an opening 65 and the front of said cross portion has the pin 3S formed therewith.

Before describing further the details of the inking mechanism there will now be described the manner in which the inking mechanism operates and moves in relation to the printing unit.

The inking container 62 is pivotally connected to the rearward extensions 30 of the sides of main base frame 12 by the pivotal pin 32 on each side extending through the opening 31 in the sides of the main base frame and the opening 65 in the cross portion 64 of the inking container 62. The pin 38 on each of the cross portions 64 rides in the arcuate slot 34 of the sides 18 of the main base frame and in the slot 48 in the sides 40 of the depressible frame 14. In normal or non-printing position, that is, when the depressible sub-frame 14 and the printling unit is in its up or elevated position, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the inking mechanism 34 is so positioned as to be directly under the printing end of the printing unit and the ink pad container is positioned parallel with the printing end of the printing unit and parallel with the base 20. In this position the pin 38 on each side is at the lowermost end in the inclined portion 50 of the slot 48 of the depressible sub-frame 14, as shown in FIGS. l and 2.

Upon depression of the handle 44 of the depressible sub-frame 14, and with it the printing unit, the slot 48 on the sides of the depressible sub-frame will move down,

and as the slot moves down it will through its contact with the pins 38 cause the inking mechanism 34 to pivot outwardly on the pivotal pins 32 away from the printing unit, as shown in FIG. 6, thereby allowing the printing unit to perform its printing operation through its movement into the open rectangular space 22 of the bottom 20. After the printing has been performed and the handle 44 is released, the spring within the handle, not shown, will cause the handle to move up and thereby elevate with it the depressible sub-frame 14. As the depressible subframe rises in relation to the stationary base frame 12, the pins 38 connected to the inking unit will move through the slot 48 and will cause the inking unit to move from its tilted or inclined position back to its horizontal position directly under the printing end of the printing unit.

The foregoing construction provides a unit in which the printing unit is enclosed, except for the portion aforementioned, and wherein the rotation and setting of the type bands is performed by engaging levers 52 so that at no time are the operators hands ever in contact with the type bands which are normally inked. Thus, irrespective of the number of times the type bands have to be changed and set, as is customary, at no time does the operator soil his hands by ink, which is a Very objectionable feature in present day commercial stamps. In addition to protecting the operators hands from ink, merchandise is also prevented from ink smudging as often occurs when the sides of the printing bands contact the merchandise. Also, by virtue of their enclosure the printing characters on the type bands are prevented from being damaged.

Of great importance in connection with this invention is the short stroke through which the printing unit moves from a non-printing to a printing position. This is occasioned by the particular arrangement of parts and slots. With the present invention the stroke is approximately one-third shorter than the stroke of conventional stamps. Advantages accrue as a result of a short stroke, for example, one advantage is that less effort is needed to perform the printing operation. A reduced stroke means lighter pressure against the object to be stamped, consequently it is now possible to stamp objects which are fragile and soft, which were not possible to satisfactorily stamp previously. Also, the advantage of a short stroke permits a faster, quieter action with less wear and tear on the structure.

In applicants commercial construction there is a movement of approximately 11/16 of an inch of the printing stamp from its up position to its down or printing position. This is a considerably shorter stroke than other commercial stamps have and produces the aforementioned advantages. It also makes it easier on the operator to perform the stamping function without tiring; he is able to perform a faster stamping operation and consequently can increase his output.

The inking unit generally indicated at 34 and more particularly shown in FIGS. 7 to 1l inclusive, will now be described in greater detail.

Heretofore referred to was the ink pad housing or container previously designated generally by the numeral 62. Within this housing is positioned a rectangular shaped member generally designated by the numeral 68 which is formed to provide two chambers or compartments; one chamber 70 is for the ink supply and the other chamber 72 receives the laminated absorbent material. The rectangular shaped member has a top or cover portion 73 and a vertical wall 74, the bottom of which is spaced above the bottom of the container to provide a slot or passageway 76 between the ink compartment 7@ and the open face compartment 72. The top wall 73 of the ink compartment is provided with an opening 75 which is closed by a removable cap 76 and the ink supply 77 is admitted through the opening 75 into the compartment.

Within the open face compartment 72 is positioned the ink pad 78 which comprises a strip of absorbent material, pffelably 0f a woven texture, which is folded upon itself to form a series of connected plies or laminations 80. After the absorbent material has been shaped and folded, as shown, the opposite ends of the folded strip are ldipped into a bonding solution so that when it dries the opposite ends of the pad are bonded together by the bonding material 82 to hold the laminations or plies together, as shown in the upper portion of FIG. 8. In this condition the inking pad 78 is inserted in the open face compartment 72 and the ink 77 in compartment 70 will seep through the slotted opening 74' into the bottom of the open face compartment 72 and through capillary action through laminations 80 will bring to the pad surface a controlled supply of ink necessary for eficient marking. The ink supply can be replenished through the opening 75 and therefore the inking pad 78 has a continuous flow of ink just sufficient to maintain it in a proper inked condition. By virtue of the particular pad construction the pad has a bounce-back or complete recovery quality at the `pad surface, that is, after the printing unit moves away from its engagement with the surface of the ink pad the depressions usually made in the pad will recover to a normal condition and the ink pad will become at and all indentations will disappear. By reason of this construction a better inking quality is obtained from the inking pad and the life of the pad is increased since depressions normally made by the printing characters do not appear in the present construction.

It will be understood that when the stamp is in its up position, as shown in FIGS. l and 2, that the printing end of the printing unit is in engagement with the stamp pad 78, best shown in FIG. 2, and when the hand stamp is operated or depressed the inking unit is tilted at an angle as shown in FIG. 6. In this position a controlled amount of ink fluid will flow by reason of the inclined angle into compartment 72 containing the pad. Thus, with each actuation of the device a sufficient amount of ink will ow from the ink reservoir to the pad portion.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hand stamp comprising a main frame and a depressible sub-frame supported on said main frame, a printing unit including 4a plurality of bands rotatably supported on said printing unit, said printing unit supported on said depressible sub-frame, means guiding the printing unit for translatory movement in a str-aight line direction from an elevated position to a printing position, a radially extending lever on said printing unit for rotating each said type band, a housing enclosing said printing unit and provided with slots through which said levers extend, said housing completely enclosing said type bands except for a bottom opening provided in said housing and permitting printing therethrough, said housing supported by said depressible su'b-frame and movable therewith an ink pad pivotally connected to said ma-in frame for inking the printing end of said type bands, said depressible sub-frame adapted when depressed to move said printing unit into printing position and to move said ink pad to a position away from the printing end,

2. A hand stamp comprising a main frame and a depressible subir-ame supported on said main frame and positioned over said main frame and reciprocable with respect thereto, .a printing unit secured to said depressible sub-frame, means guiding the printing unit for translatory movement in a straight line direction from an elevated position to a printing posit-ion, said printing unit including a plunality of printing bands having printing characters thereon, a housing for enclosing said printing unit, said housing having a plurality of slots in one of the walls thereof, levers secured to said printing unit and extending outwardly of said slots for manual engagement for rotating the printing bands of said printing unit, said housing having an opening at the bottom thereof, an ink pad member pivotally supported on said main frame and normally positioned in a horizontal plane adjacent the printing end of said printing unit to make contact with the printing characters on the printing band for the purpose of inking same, means connecting said pivotal inking member with said depressible sub-frame so that depression of said subframe will cause said inking member to pivot away from the printing end of the printing unit to permit printing.

3. A structure deiined in claim 2 in which the slots are of a length so that movement of the lever through the length of the slot will cause the type band to be rot-ated one increment.

4. A structure deiined in claim 2 in which the main frame is provided with a vertical slot on each of its sides and the means which connects the printing unit to said depressible sub-frame extends through said vertical slots.

15. A structure defined in claim 2 in which the main frame is provided with a vertical slot on e-ach of its opposite sides with the means connecting said printing unit and depressible sub-frame extending through said vertical slots to ride therewithin and wherein each -of the sides of the main frame rhas a slot positioned at. an angle rearwardly of said vertical slot through which extends a pin member of the inking pad member.

6. A structure deiined in claim 2 in which the printing unit is supported Iin a housing `which is detachably secured to the depressible sub-frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 532,064 1/1895 Wosinski 101--108 `650,102 5/ 1900 Tilly 118-264 838,683 12/1906 Caldwell 101-101 963,972 7/1910 Wosinski 101--108 1,230,391 `6/1917 Folger et al. lOl-333 1,569,470 1/1926 Falder 118-264 2,075,169 3/1937 Brown 101-103 X 2,096,340 10/1937 Richeson 101--111 2,983,219 5/1961 Weissman lOl-333 3,090,305 5/1963 Keck 101--334 3,099,955 `8/1963 Keck 101--105 DAVID KLEIN, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM B. PENN, PAUL R. WOODS, Assistant Examiners`

Claims

1. A HAND STAMP COMPRISING A MAIN FRAME AND A DEPRESSIBLE SUB-FRAME SUPPORTED ON SAID MAIN FRAME, A PRINTING UNIT INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF BANDS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID PRINTING UNIT, SAID PRINTING UNIT SUPPORTED ON SAID DEPRESSIBLE SUB-FRAME, MEANS GUIDING THE PRINTING UNIT FOR TRANSLATORY MOVEMENT IN A STRAIGHT LINE DIRECTION FROM AN ELEVATED POSITION TO A PRINTING POSITION, A RADIALLY EXTENDING LEVER ON SAID PRINTING UNIT FOR ROTATING EACH SAID TYPE BAND, A HOUSING ENCLOSING SAID PRINTING UNIT AND PROVIDED WITH SLOTS THROUGH WHICH SAID LEVERS EXTEND, SAID HOUSING COMPLETELY ENCLOSING SAID TYPE BANDS EXCEPT FOR A BOTTOM OPENING PROVIDED IN SAID HOUSING AND PERMITTING PRINTING THERETHROUGH, SAID HOUSING SUPPORTED BY SAID DEPRESSIBLE SUB-FRAME AND MOVABLE THEREWITH AN INK PAD PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID MAIN FRAME FOR INKING THE PRINTING END OF SAID TYPE BANDS, SAID DEPRESSIBLE SUB-FRAME ADAPTED WHEN DEPRESSED TO MOVE SAID PRINTING UNIT INTO PRINTING POSITION AND TO MOVE SAID INK PAD TO A POSITION AWAY FROM THE PRINTING END.