US3327624A - Marking apparatus for imprinting characters on articles being successively conveyed - Google Patents

Description

June 27, 1967 M. B. BEAVER 3,327,624

MARKING APPARATUS FOR IMPRINTING CHARACTERS ON ARTICLES BEING SUCCESSIVELY CONVEYED 1 Filed May 24. 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 lfl g L as [/2 l/eatar-x Mlle/d5. 50a var;

by W

June 27, 1967 M, E ER 3,327,624

MARKING APPARATUS FOR IMPRINTING CHARACTERS ON ARTICLES BEING SUCCESSIVELY CONVEYED Filed May 24, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 frl/ewzor: 7/'//ard5. 568 var 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 M B. BEAVER BEING SUCCESSIVELY CONVEYED MARKING APPARATUS FOR IMPRINTING CHARACTERS ON ARTICLES June 27, 1967 Filed May 24. 1965 United States Patent 3,327,624 MARKING AHARATUS FOR IMPRINTING CHAR- ACTERS ON ARTICLES BEING SUCCESSIVELY CONVEYED Millard B. Beaver, 2101 Lawndale, Fort Wayne, Ind. 46805 Filed May 24, 1965, Ser. No. 458,358 12 Claims. (Cl. 101-35) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A marking apparatus comprising a frame having an elongated arm pivotally mounted thereon, a marking wheel mounted on the arm for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of pivoting of the arm on the frame, a spring [for yieldably urging the arm away from the frame, an eccentric adjusting shaft journaled in said arm, an inking roll device rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a periphery positioned for operative engagement with the periphery of the marking wheel, said inking roll device including an elongated cylindrical arbor coaxially rotatably mounted on said shaft, a barrel element removably mounted on the arbor for retaining a circumferentially extending ink-retaining device thereon, said marking Wheel including means for mounting type on the outer periphery thereof.

The present invention relates to a marking apparatus and more particularly to marking apparatus for printing codes or characters on articles successively conveyed along a given path.

It is conventional to print codes, such as date codes, directly onto articles or onto cartons containing articles, as the latter are conveyed along a given path by means of endless conveyors or the like. Various types of apparatuses have been devised and used for the purpose of applying the code automatically; however, such apparatuses have suffered from the deficiency, in some percentage of the operation thereof, of not printing legibly or of not being readily adjustable during operation. Improper contact of the printing type with the surface being imprinted has largely been responsible for this deficiency, in some instances the irregularity of the surface being imprinted being the cause and in other instances the marking apparatus itself being inadequate in the application of a consistent, proper printing force.

In order to print consistently and legibly, it is necessary for the printing apparatus not only to be capable of proper adjustment but also that it respond precisely to irregularities in the surface being printed such that at all times the proper printing force will be applied to the surface during printing operations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a marking apparatus which is capable of printing legibly on the surfaces of articles or cartons as they are conveyed sequentially along a given path.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a marking apparatus which may be adjusted while in operation for the purpose of obtaining a legible marking within a minimum of time and in a reliable manner.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a marking apparatus which is continuously operable and which carries a self-contained ink supply capable of being adjustably applied to the printing type While the apparatus is in operation.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a marking apparatus having a self-contained inking device capable of facile manipulation for renewal or replenishment of an ink supply.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of this invention in the process of performing printing functions on a succession of cartons being conveyed along a given path;

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the printing wheel taken substantially along section line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view of the opposite side of the apparatus partially broken away and sectioned for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the printing wheel and indexing assembly partially broken away and sectioned for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 5, taken substantially along section line 66 thereof;

FIG. 7 is a partial axial section of the inking roll assembly of this invention;

FIGS. 8a and 8b are end views of the arbor and hub portions, respectively, in position to be assembled together; and

FIG. 9 1s a side view of the hub portion of the assembly of FIG. 7.

Referring to the drawings, which are substantially to scale, and more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, an elongated steel bar or frame 10 is clamped at its righthand end onto a stationary (in the illustrated instance, vertically extending) bar 12 suitably rigidly clamped or secured to a stationary support 14 The clamping or attachment of the frame 10 to the bar 12 is by means of a split collar 16 surrounding the bar 12, which is tightly secured thereto by means of suitable screws 18. Pivotal adjustment of the frame 10 about the rod 12 is made possible by loosening the screws 18 and tightening the same at the position at which the frame 10 is to be operated.

Depending beneath (as shown in FIG. 4) the frame 10 intermediate the ends thereof are a pair of spaced-apart lugs 20. A supporting arm 22 is fitted between these lugs 20 and is pivotally secured thereto by means of a pivot pin 24. By this means, the arm 22 is capable of being swung toward and away from the frame 10.

In the left-hand end of the frame 10 is a longitudinally extending slot 26 which receives with clearance a bolt 28. The lower end of this bolt is threaded into the arm 22, while the upper end thereof is provided with a head 30 engageable with the upper side of the frame 10 for limiting the downward movement of the bolt 28. By means of the attachment of this bolt 28 with the arm 22, the sep- The ends of this spring 70 r.) aration movement between the arm 22 and the frame is limited. This separation distance is controlled by the adjustment of the bolt 28 in the arm 22.

An inclined elongated socket 32 opens adjacent to the under side (FIG. 4) of the frame 10 and receives a helical compression spring 34 therein. An adjusting screw 36 is threaded through the frame 10 and bears against the upper end of the spring 34, the axis of this screw 36 being in line with the axis of the socket 32 and the spring 34. A slight clearance is provided between the spring 34 and the socket 32 for permitting the compressed height of the spring 34 to be adjusted by turning the screw 36. Thus, the arm 22 is spring-urged away from the frame 10 about the pivot 24 and the force of this is controlled by adjustment of the screw 36. Enough clearance is provided between the socket 32 and the lower extremity of the screw 36 to permit movement of the arm 22 to its usable operating angle.

An inking-roll device or assembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral 38, is rotatably mounted on the arm 22 by means of an eccentric shaft indicated generally by the reference numeral 40. This eccentric shaft 40 has a journal portion 42 journaled in a bearing aperture 44 in the arm 22 as shown more clearly in FIG. 4. This journal portion 42 is provided with a circumferential groove 46 into Which the tip end 48 of a set screw 50, which is threaded through the arm 22, enters. This screw 50 is preferably of metal; however, the tip 48 is made of nylon to provide for a smooth, rubbing engagement with the groove 46. The screw 50 is adjusted to bear against the groove 46 with a sufficient amount of force to permit the shaft 40 to be rotationally adjusted manually but with sufficient force to hold the shaft 48 in this position while the apparatus is operating.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 1 and 4, the shaft 40 extends to one side of the arm 22 far enough to have a handle 32 secured thereto.

An eccentric shaft extension 52 on shaft 40 extends beyond the opposite side of the arm 22 and in parallelism with the pivot pin 24. On this eccentric extension 52 is rotatably mounted a cylindrical arbor generally indicated by the numeral 54 and shown alone in FIG. 8a. Suitable bearings rotatably mount the arbor 54 on the shaft extension 52 such that the arbor 54 may freely rotate.

Intermediate the ends of the arbor 54 is an annular or circumferential groove 58 which serves a purpose later to be explained. The outer end of the arbor may be slightly tapered as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8a.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8a, a disc-like flange 60 which lies in a plane normal to the axis of the arbor 54 is secured to one end of the arbor.

Adapted to be slidably telescoped over the arbor 54 is a hub element shown individually in FIGS. 8b and 9 and in assembly in FIG. 7. This hub element, indicated generally by the numeral 62, is of cylindrical configuration and is provided with a coaxial bore 64 of a size having a sliding clearance with the outer surface of the arbor 54. Integrally formed on the hub 52 are three axially projecting lugs 66 spaced 120 apart and disposed immediately adjacent to the bore 64. Each of these lugs 66 in the outer radial portions thereof has a circumferentially extending groove 68, and stretched over these lugs 66 and fitting into'the grooves 68 is a helical tension spring 70. are connected together so as to provide a closed loop such that upon being stretched over the lugs 66 as shown the spring 70 assumes a generally triangular shape with the straight sides thereof being positioned inside the circumferential extent of the bore 64. This is best illustrated in FIG. 9. Unattached, the spring 70 resembles an ordinary rubber band in shape and stretching characteristics.

Integrally formed with and as a part of the hub 62 is a disc-like flange 72, this flange extending at right angles to the axis of the hub 62. Inte'grally formed with and axially extending from the flange 72 is a cylindrical barrel element 74, the diameter of this barrel element 74 being smaller than the outer diameter of the flange 72. The flange 60 on the arbor and the flange 72 on the hub preferably are of equal diameter. Also, the barrel element 74 extends axially from the flange 72 in a direction to surround thelugs 66 and the detent spring 70.

The arbor 54 and hub 62 are easily assembled together by telescoping the hub 62 over the arbor 54 until the detent spring 70 drops into the arbor groove 58. The location of the spring 70 and the length of the barrel element 74 are so related that the detent spring 70 will engage the arbor groove 58 as the end of the barrel element 74 engages the flange 60. This then provides the assembly shown in FIG. 7.

Axially extending from the flange 72 in a direction opposite the barrel element 74 is an annular knob 76 which may be easily grasped by the fingers for the purpose of assembling or disassembling the arbor and hub members.

An annular ink-containing element is snugly slidably retained on the barrel element 74 in contact with the two flanges do and 72. This annular element 78, in the preferred embodiment of this invention, is of a construction known by the registered trademark as Porelon, which is a micro-porous plastic capable of retaining printing ink therein. Such a material is disclosed in US. Patent No.

2,777,824. In operation, the liquid ink contained in the pores feeds to the outer peripheral surface of the element 78 by the process of osmosis. The liquid on the.

surface is replenished by the liquid inside as it distributes itself throughout the plastic.

This annular inking element 78 is easily installed by merely sliding it onto the barrel element 74 (8b) and then fitting the hub member 62 onto the arbor 54. When it is desired to replace this inking element 78, it is only necessary to withdraw the hub member 62 from the arbor 54, remove the ink roll 78 from the barrel 74, and then replace this roll 78 with a new one.

A marking wheel, indicated generally by the reference numeral 8%), is mounted on the left-hand end of the arm 22 (FIG. 4) for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the inking roller 38.

The wheel 80 itself includes a rim portion 82 and a disc or rim-supporting portion 84, the latter having an enlarged center opening 86 shown more clearly in FIG. 6.

The rim portion 82 is provided with two circumferential slot configurations indicated, respectively, by the reference numerals 88 and 90'. As shown more clearly in FIG. 3, these slots 88 and 90 are in side-by-side, axially spaced relationship. Preferably, these slots 88 and 90 have the configurations as disclosed in Patents Nos. 3,071,071 and 3,093,070. Rubber type 92, also as disclosed in the previously mentioned patents, is fitted into the slot 88 while driving elements havin essentially the same shape as rubber type as disclosed in the aforesaid patents are fitted into the slot 90. As shown more clearly in FIG. 4, there are a plurality of these elements 94 fitted into the slot 9%, in end-to-end relaionship, these elements 94 resembling a rubber tire on a wheel. As shown more clearly in FIG. 3, the peripheral surfaces of the type 92 and the driving elements 94 are substantially the same diameters. Both the type 92 and the driving elements 94 preferably are made of rubber; however, the elements 94 are designed to be more compressible and preferably are fabricated of softer rubber.

Secured to one side of the wheel disc 84, as shown in FIG. 2, is an indexing mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 96. This mechanism includes a metallic casing 98 (generally cylindrical) having one end 100 of a shaft 102 coaxially journaled therein. As shown more clearly in FIG. 6, the casing 96 is hollow, having a generally cylindrical inner wall 104 and a rear end wall 106. The end 100 of the shaft 102 is journaled in the end wall 106.

The casing 98 is secured to the wheel disc 84 by means of two screws 108 in such position that the shaft 102 is located coaxially with respect to the wheel rim 82. The shaft 102 extends through the wheel disc 84 and is secured to the left-hand end of the arm 22 as shown more clearly in FIGS. 1 and 4. The shaft 102 is so positioned on the arm 22 that the axis thereof is parallel to the axis of the inking roller 38 and also such that the outer periphery of the inking roller 38 is in registry with the type 92 on the wheel 80.

The indexing mechanism further includes a cam 119 secured to the shaft 100 as shown more clearly in FIG. 5. This cam 110, in one embodiment of this invention, is roughly heart-shaped or eccentric, having a high portion 112 and a low portion 114.

The casing 96 is further provided with a slot 116 (FIG. 6) within which a follower arm 118 is positioned. This follower arm 118 is pivotally mounted on a pin 120 secured at its opposite ends into portions of the casing 96 whereby the follower arm 118 may be swung about an axis which is parallel to the axis of the shaft 102.

The inner end of the arm 118 is provided with a roller 122 engaged with the outer periphery of the earn 110. The opposite end 124 of the follower arm is engaged by a helical compression spring 126 which bears at its other end against a portion 128 of the casing. A pin 130 suitably secured to the portion 128 fits inside the spring 126 for holding the latter in position. This spring 126 is designed to exert a force which holds the roller 122 in engagement with the surface of the cam 110. As is shown more clearly in FIG. 5, the length of the follower arm on the cam side of the pivot pin 120 is longer than the length thereof on the spring side. The reason for this will become apparent from the description that follows.

A flat metal indexing arm 132 is secured to the central portion of the wheel disc 80 by means of screens 133 as shown more clearly in FIGS. 4 and 6. This arm projects beyond the periphery of the wheel 80 and carries a light nylon roller 134 on the outer extremity thereof.

As will now be understood, the shaft 102 and the cam 110 are stationary while the wheel 80, the casing 96 and its follower arm 118 are rotatable, as a unit, thereabout. The engagement of the follower arm 118, and more precisely the roller 122, with the cam 110 normally maintains the wheel 80 in a single rotational position, this position corresponding to the engagement of the roller 122 with the low portion 114 of the cam. The maintenance of this rotational position is provided by the spring 126 bearing against the end 124 of the follower arm 118. As the wheel 80 is rotated, the roller 122 rides over the cam periphery causing corresponding swinging of the follower arm 118 and flexing of the spring 126. Since all of the portions of the cam 110 are higher than portion 114, if no rotational force is applied to the wheel 80, and it is permitted to seek its own position, engagement of the follower arm 118 with the cam 110 will always cause the wheel 80 to rotate to the position shown in FIG. 5.

In setting the apparatus up for operation, it is initially mounted adjacent to a conveyor line. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a series of boxes or cartons 136 are being conveyed along a straight line path in the direction indicated by the arrows 138 with markings from the printing wheel 80 being made on the upright sides of the boxes. Such a marking, indicated by the numeral 140, is shown in FIG. 1. In making imprints on the boxes 136, the apparatus of this invention is initially mounted on supporting rod 12 which is held in an upright position. The limit screw 30 is adjusted to a position (see FIG. 4) at which the periphery of the printing wheel just clears the side of one box 136. This relationship is shown in FIG. 4. Next, the set screw 5%) is adjusted to a position at which it engages the eccentric shaft 40 with some tightness but not so tight that the shaft 40 cannot be rotated manually by swinging the handle 32. The screw 50 being so adjusted, the handle 32 is swung to a position at which the periphery of the inking roll 78 just touches the type face of the elements 92. This engagement is shown in FIG. 2. The engagement should be suflicient that the inking roll 38 will be rotated in response to the rotation of the wheel 80.

Referring to FIG. 4, as the box 138 moves toward the left, it engages the indexing arm 132 which imparts rotation to the printing wheel 80. This rotation is far enough such that the first drive element 94a on the wheel 80 engages the side of the box 136 and causes continued rotation clockwise (FIG. 4) of the wheel 80 until the type 92 is also brought into rolling engagement with the box sidev Continued movement of the box 136 causes corresponding rotation of the printing wheel 80 until the box 136 passes clear of the printing wheel 80. When this happens, the indexing mechanism 96 immediately returns the printing wheel 80 to the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to place the apparatus in readiness for imprinting the next succeeding carton. Thus, as each carton passes by the apparatus, an imprint will be made thereon.

While the apparatus is thus in operation, proper inking of the type 92 is simply accomplished by merely shifting the handle 32 so as to move the inking roller 38 into or out of more intimate engagement with the type 92. Thus, the operator can watch the printing results as the apparatus operates and adjust the inking roller 38 until the desired print is obtained. Since the shaft 40 is frictionally held in position by means of the set screw 50, no further adjustment need be made in order to hold the inking roller 38 in this proper inking position. The apparatus can proceed to operate over an extended period of time until the surface of the inking roller 38 wears sufiiciently to require an additional adjustment by operation of the handle 32. Thus, the inking roller 38 can be adjusted while the apparatus is in full operation without necessitating -a shutdown of the conveyor which transports the boxes 136.

Because of the variation in surface regularity as well as surface materials, it is necessary that an apparatus of this nature be capable of printing legibly thereon, irrespective of these inconsistencies. This capability is built into the present apparatus by reason of the dual arm 10, 22 suspension, the adjustable spring force brought about by adjustment of the screw 36, and the adjustment of the wheel 80 with respect to the boxes 136 being printed by operating the screw 30. The exact degree of force with which the type 92 is applied against the boxes 136 is made possible by reason of the spring 34. Thus, while the machine is operated, the adjusting screw 36 may be turned until the desired degree of printing force is obtained, which thereby results in a clear imprint being made on the boxes 136.

Recapitulating, adjustment of the parts 30, 36 and 32 while the apparatus is in operation provides quick and reliable means for obtaining clear imprints without necessitating a shutdown of the conveyor or any disassembling of the apparatus.

The replacement of the annular inking element 78, as explained previously, is simple and expeditious by reason of the fact that it is only necessary to withdraw manually the hub member 62 from the arbor 54, change the inking element 78 and then replace the hub member 62 onto the arbor 54. Precise inking adjustment for obtaining legible imprints is made simple by reason of the handle 32 and inhibited rotation of the eccentric shaft 40. Adjustments of the apparatus for applying the precise amount of printing force needed in order to obtain legible imprints is made possible by the adjustments 30 and 36. During operation, if any of the box or article surfaces upon which imprints are being made should prove to be uneven or irregular, the arm 22 can flex therewith by reason of the ability of the arm 22 to swing relative to the frame 10. All of these factors combine to make versatile the apparatus of this invention in the respect of the imprinting of articles of different materials, sizes, shapes and the like.

The shaft 162 is mounted on the end of arm 22 by means of a split clamp arrangement adjustably secured or tightened about shaft 102 by a screw 103. This screw 103 is threaded into the arm 22 through the split portion 105 thereof.

A further feature of versatility in this apparatus resides in the capability of reversing the various shafts, the marking wheel 80 and the inking roll 38 to the opposite side of the frame 10 and arm 22 from that shown in, the drawings.

While the feeding of the cartons in FIG. 1 is shown as being in the direction of the arrows 138, this direction may be reversed, assuming, of course, that the indexing arm 132 and the apparatus otherwise is adjusted to accommodate this reversal.

While there have been described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A marking apparatus comprising an elongated frame adapted at one end to be stationarily mounted, a mounting lug projecting from one side of said frame between the ends thereof, an elongated arm pivotally mounted at one end on said lug for swinging movement toward and away from said frame, a marking wheel mounted on the opposite end of said arm for rotation about an axis par allel to the axis of swinging movement of said arm, a longitudinally extending slot in the other end of said frame, a bolt received with clearance by said slot and threaded into said arm, said bolt having a head engageable with the side of said frame opposite said arm for limiting the swinging movement of said arm away from said frame, an elongated socket in said arm which opens toward said frame, the axis of said socket intersecting said frame, a compression spring in said socket, an adjusting screw threaded through said frame entering said socket and engaging one end of said spring whereby movement of said arm toward said frame results in compression of said spring and the development of a spring force urging said arm away from said frame, an adjusting shaft having a journal portion mounted for rotation in said arm and having an axis parallel to the axis of said marking wheel, the opposite end portions of said adjusting shaft projecting beyond said arm, said journal portion having a circumferential groove, an adjusting screw threaded into said arm and having a nylon tip on the end thereof which fits into said groove whereby said shaft may be frictionally resisted in rotation and held against axial movement, said adjusting shaft having an eccentric shaft extension on one end portion which extends beyond said arm, the other end portion of said adjusting shaft hav ing a radially extending handle thereon for rotationally positioning said shaft in said arm; an inking-roll device rotatably mounted on said shaft extension and having a periphery positioned for operative engagement with the periphery of said marking wheel, said inking-roll device comprising an elongated cylindrical arbor coaxially rotatably mounted on said shaft extension which has a disclike flange on one end thereof, said flange defining a plane normal to the axis of rotation of said arbor, a circumferential coaxial groove in the outer surface of said arbor intermediate the ends of the latter, a hub telescopically removably fitted onto said arbor, said hub having on the side thereof facing said flange three equally angularly spaced lugs which are adjacent to said arbor and project toward said flange, said three lugs having radially outwardly facing portions provided with spring-retaining grooves, a loop tension spring stretched over said three lugs and engaging said spring-retaining grooves thereby retaining and shaping said loop spring into a substantially triangular configuration having a center which coincides with the axis of said arbor, said loop spring being tensioned and engaging the groove in said arbor thereby retaining said hub on said arbor, said hub having a second disc-like flange, thereon which is parallel to and spaced from the first-named flange, said second flange having a cylindrical barrel element thereon which extends toward said first-named flange, said barrel element coaxially surrounding said arbor in spaced relationship, said barrel element also'surrounding and enclosing said three lugs, an annular knob-like element on said hub coaxially projecting beyond said second flange in a direction opposite said barrel element; said marking wheel including a cylindrically shaped rim having means for mounting type on the outer periphery thereof, a disc-like rim-supporting member secured to said rim adjacent to one end of the latter; an indexing device comprising a casing having one end of a shaft journaled therein, an eccentric cam secured to the last-named shaft for rotation therewith, said cam having at least one high portionvand one low portion, a follower arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends onto said casing, said follower arm having a roller on one end operatively engaged with said cam, a compression spring mounted on said casing and engaging the other end of said follower arm, said last-named spring urging said follower arm roller into engagement with said cam, the lever arm of said follower arm between saidroller and the pivotal mounting being longer than the lever arm on the spring side thereof, said casing surrounding said cam' and partially enclosing said follower arm; said casing being secured to the rim-supporting member of said wheel with the last-named shaft projecting through said rimsupporting member in coaxial relation to said rim, said last-named shaft being secured to said opposite end of said arm; and an indexing arm fixedly secured to said wheel and projecting radially beyond the perimeter thereof in order to engage successively conveyed articles to impart rotation to said wheel.

2. A marking apparatus comprising an elongated frame adapted at one end to be tstationarily mounted, an elongated arm pivotally mounted at one end on said frame between the ends of and for movement toward and away from the latter, a marking wheel mounted on the opposite end of said arm for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of swinging movement of said arm, a longitudinally extending slot in the other end of said frame, a bolt received with clearance by said slot and threaded into said arm, said bolt having a head engageable with the side of said frame opposite said arm for limiting the swinging movement of said arm away from said frame, an elongated socket in saidarm which opens toward said frame, the axis of said socket intersecting said frame, a compression spring in said socket, an adjusting screw threaded through said frame entering said socket and engaging one end of said spring whereby movement of said arm toward said frame results in compression of said springand the development of a spring force urging said arm away from said frame, an adjusting shaft having a journal portion mounted for rotation in said arm and having an axis parallel to the axis of said marking wheel, the opposite end portions of said adjusting shaft projecting beyond said arm, said journal portion having a circumferential groove, an adjusting screw threaded into said arm and having a nylon tip on the end thereof which fits into said groove whereby said shaft may be frictionally resisted in rotation and held against axial movement, said adjusting shaft having an eccentric shaft extension on one end portion which extends beyond said arm, the other end portion of said adjusting shaft having a radially extending handle thereon for rotationally positioning said shaft in said arm; an inking-roll device rotatably mounted on said shaft extension and having a periphery positioned for operative engagement with the periphery of said marking wheel, said inking-roll device comprising an elongated cylindrical arbor coaxially rotatably mounted on said shaft extension which has a disc-like flange on one end thereof, said flange defining a plane normal to the axis of rotation of said arbor, a circumferential coaxial groove in the outer surface of said arbor intermediate the ends of the latter, a hub telescopically removably fitted into said arbor, said hub having on the side thereof facing said flange three equally angularly spaced lugs which are adjacent to said arbor and project toward said flange, said three lugs having radially outwardly facing portions provided With spring-retaining grooves, a loop tension spring stretched over said three lugs and engaging said spring-retaining grooves thereby retaining and shaping said loop spring into a substantially triangular configuration having a center which coincides with the axis of said arbor said loop spring being tensioned and engaging the groove in said arbor thereby retaining said hub on said arbor, said hub having a second disc-like flange thereon which is parallel to and spaced from the first-named flange, said second flange having a cylindrical barrel element thereon which extends toward said first-named flange, said barrel element coaxially surrounding said arbor in spaced relationship, said barrel element also surrounding and enclosing said three lugs, an annular knob-like element on said hub coaxially projecting beyond said second flange in a direction opposite said barrel element; said marking Wheel including a cylindrically shaped rim having means for mounting type on the outer periphery thereof, a disc-like rim-supporting member secured to said rim adjacent to one end of the latter; an indexing device comprising a casing having one end of a shaft journaled therein, an eccentric cam secured to the last-named shaft for rotation therewith, a follower arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends onto said casing, said follower arm having a roller on one end operatively engaged with said cam, 21 compression spring mounted on said casing and engaging the other end of said follower arm, said last-named spring urging said follower arm roller into engagement with said cam, the lever arm of said follower arm between said roller and the pivotal mounting being longer than the lever arm on the spring side thereof, said casing surrounding said cam and partially enclosing said follower arm; said casing being secured to the rim-supporting member of said wheel with the last-named shaft projecting through said rim-supporting member in coaxial relation to said rim, and said last-named shaft being secured to said opposite end of said arm.

3. A marking apparatus comprising an elongated frame, adapted at one end to be stationarily mounted, a mount ing lug projecting from one side of said frame between the ends thereof, an elongated arm pivotally mounted at one end on said frame between the ends of and for swinging movement toward and away from the latter, a marking wheel mounted on the opposite end of said arm for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of swinging movement of said arm, means for limiting the swinging movement of said arm away from said frame, an elongated socket in said arm which opens toward said frame, the axis of said socket intersecting said frame, a compression spring in said socket, an adjusting screw threaded through said frame entering said socket and engaging one end of said spring whereby movement of said arm toward said frame results in compression of said spring and the development of a spring force urging said arm away from said frame, an adjusting shaft having a journal portion mounted for rotation in said arm and having an axis parallel to the axis of said marking wheel, said journal portion having a circumferential groove, an adjusting screw threaded into said arm and having a nylon tip on the end thereof which fits into said groove whereby said shaft may be frictionally resisted in rotation and held against axial movement, said shaft having an eccentric shaft extension thereon which extends beyond said arm; an inkingroll device rotatably mounted on said shaft extension and having a periphery positioned for operative engagement with the periphery of said marking wheel, said inking-roll device comprising an elongated cylindrical arbor coaxially rotatably mounted on said shaft extension and having a disc-like flange on one end thereof, said flange defining 10 a plane normal to the axis of rotation of said arbor, a circumferential coaxial groove in the outer surface of said arbor intermediate the ends of the latter, a hub telescopically removably fitted onto said arbor, said hub having on the side thereof facing said flange three equally angularly spaced lugs which are adjacent to said arbor and project toward said flange, said three lugs having radially outwardly facing portions provided with spring-retaining grooves, a loop tension spring stretched over said three lugs and engaging said spring-retaining grooves thereby retaining and shaping said loop spring into a substantially triangular configuration having a center which coincides with the axis of said arbor, said loop spring being tensioned and engaging the groove in said arbor thereby retaining said hub on said arbor, said hub having a second disc-like flange thereon which is parallel to and spaced from the first-named flange, said second flange having a cylindrical barrel element thereon which extends toward said first-named flange, said barrel element coaxially surrounding said arbor in spaced relationship, said barrel element also surrounding and enclosing said three lugs, an annular knob-like element on said hub coaxially projecting beyond said second flange in a direction opposite said barrel element; and said marking wheel including means for mounting type on the outer periphery thereof. 4; A marking apparatus comprising an elongated frame adapted at one end to be stationarily mounted, a mounting lug projecting from one side of said frame between the ends thereof, an elongated arm pivotally mounted at one end on said frame between the ends of and for swinging movement toward and away from the latter, a marking wheel mounted on the opposite end of said arm for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of swinging movement of said arm, means for limiting the swinging movement of said arm away from said frame, means yieldably urging said arm away from said frame, an adjusting shaft having a journal portion mounted for rotation in said arm and having an axis parallel to the axis of said marking wheel, means for holding said adjusting shaft in an adjusted rotational position, said shaft having an eccentric shaft extension thereon which extends beyond said arm; an inking-roll device rotatably mounted on said shaft extension and having a periphery positioned for operative engagement with the periphery of said marking wheel, said inking-roll device comprising an elongated cylindrical arbor coaxially rotatably mounted on said shaft extension and having a disc-like flange on one end thereof, said flange defining a plane normal to the axis of rotation of said arbor, a circumferential coaxial groove in the outer surface of said arbor intermediate the ends of the latter, a hub telescopically removably fitted onto said arbor, said hub having on the side thereof facing said flange three equally angularly spaced lugs which are adjacent to said arbor and project toward said flange, said three lugs having radially outwardly facing portions provided with spring-retaining grooves, a loop tension spring stretched over said three lugs and engaging said springretaining grooves thereby retaining and reshaping said loop spring into a substantially triangular configuration having a center which coincides with the axis of said arbor, said loop spring being tensioned and engaging the groove in said arbor thereby retaining said hub on said arbor, said hub having a second disc-like flange thereon which is par allel to and spaced from the first-named flange, said second flange having a cylindrical barrel element thereon which extends toward said first-named flange, said barrel element coaxially surrounding said arbor in spaced relationship, said barrel element also surrounding and enclosing said three lugs, and said marking wheel including means for mounting type on the outer periphery thereof. 5 A marking apparatus comprising an elongated frame, an elongated arm pivotally mounted at one end on said frame between the ends of and for swinging movement toward and away from the latter, a marking wheel mounted on the opposite end of said arm for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of swinging movement of said arm, means for limiting the swinging movement of sand arm away from said frame, means yieldably urging said arm away from said frame, an adjusting shaft having a journal portion mounted for rotation in said arm and having an axis parallel to the axis of said marking wheel, means for holding said adjusting shaft in an adjusted rotational position, said shaft having an eccentric shaft extension thereon which extends beyond said arm; an inkingroll device rotatably mounted on said shaft extension and having a periphery positioned for operative engagement with the periphery of said marking Wheel, said marking wheel including a cylindrically shaped rim having means for mounting type on the outer periphery thereof, a disclike rim-supporting member secured to said rim adjacent to one end of the latter; an indexing device comprising a casing having one end of a shaft journaled therein, an eccentric cam secured to the last-named shaft for rotation therewith, a follower arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends onto said casing, said follower arm having a roller on one end operatively engaged with said cam, a compression spring mounted on said casing and engaging the other end of said follower arm, said last named spring urging said follower arm roller into engagement with said cam, said casing surrounding said cam and partially enclosing said follower arm; said casing being securedto the rim-supporting member of said wheel with the lastnamed shaft projecting through said rim-supporting member in coaxial relation to said rim, and said last-named shaft being secured to said opposite end of said arm.

6. A marking apparatus comprising an elongated frame adapted at one end to be stationarily mounted, an elongated arm pivotally mounted at one end on said frame between the ends of and for swinging movement toward and away from the latter, a marking wheel mounted on the opposite end of said arm for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of swinging movement of said arm, means for limiting the swinging movement of said arm away from said frame, means yieldably urging said arm away from said frame, an adjusting shaft having a journal portion mounted for rotation in said arm and having an axis parallel to the axis of said marking wheel, means for holding said adjusting shaft in an adjusted rotational position, said shaft having an eccentric shaft extension thereon which extends beyond said arm; an inking-roll device rotatably mounted on said shaft extension and having a periphery positioned for operative engagement with the periphery of said marking wheel, said inking-roll device comprising an elongated cylindrical arbor coaxially rotatably mounted on said shaft extension, means removably mounted on said arbor for retaining a circumferential extending ink-retaining device thereon, and said marking wheel including means for mounting type on the outer perihpery thereof.

7. A marking apparatus comprising an elongated frame adapted at one end to be stationarily mounted, an elongated arm pivotally mounted at one end on said frame between the ends of and for swinging movement toward and away from the latter, a marking wheel mounted on the opposite end of said arm for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of swinging movement of said arm, means for limiting the swinging movement of said arm away from said frame, means yieldably urging said arm away from said frame, an adjusting shaft having a journal portion mounted for rotation in said arm and having an axis parallel to the axis of said marking wheel, means for holding said adjusting shaft in an adjusted rotational position, said shaft having an eccentric shaft extension thereon which extends beyond said arm; an inking-roll device rotatably mounted on said shaft extension and having a periphery positioned for operative engagement with the periphery of said marking wheel, said inking-roll device comprising an elongated cylindrical arbor coaxially rotatably mounted on said shaft extension and having a disclike flange on one end thereof, said flange defining a plane normal to the axis of rotation of said arbor, a hub, means removably mounting said hub on said arbor, said hub having a second disc-like flange thereon which is parallel to and spaced from the first-named flange, said second flange having a cylindrical barrel elementthereon which extends toward said first-named flange, said barrel element coaxially surrounding said arbor in spaced relationship, and said marking wheel including means for mounting type on the outer periphery thereof.

8. For use in marking apparatus, an inking-roll device comprising a shaft extension, an elongated cylindrical arbor coaxially rotatably mounted on said shaft extension which has a disc-like flange on one end thereof, said flange defining a plane normal to the axis of rotation of said arbor, a circumferential coaxial groove in the outer sur-.

face of said arbor intermediate the ends of the latter, a hub telescopically removably fitted onto said arbor, said hub having on the side thereof facing said flange three equally angularly spaced lugs which are adjacent to said arbor and project toward said flange, said three lugs having radially outwardly facing portions provided with spring-retaining grooves, a loop tension spring stretched over said three lugs and engaging said spring-retaining grooves thereby retaining and. shaping said loop spring into a substantially triangular configuration having a center which coincides with the axis of said arbor, said loop spring being tensioned and engaging the groove in said arbor thereby retaining said hub on said arbor, said hub having a second disc-like flange thereon which is parallel to and spaced from the first-named flange, said 7 second flange having a cylindrical barrel element thereon which extends toward said first-named flange, said barrel element coaxially surrounding said arbor in spaced relationship, said barrel element also surrounding and enclosing said three lugs, an annular knob-like element on said hub coaxially projecting beyond said second flange in a direction opposite said barrel element.

Q For use in marking apparatus, an elongated cylindrical arbor adapted to be rotated about the axis thereof, a disc-like flange on one end of said arbor, a hub telescopically removably fitted over the outside of said arbor, means for positioning said hub on said arbor, detent means for detachably locking said hub onto said arbor, said hub having a second disc-like flange thereon which is parallel to and spaced from the first-named flange, said second flange having a cylindrical barrel element thereon which extends toward said first-named flange, said barrel element being spaced from said arbor and coaxial with respect to said axis, and a knob-like element on said hub projecting beyond said second flange in a direction opposite to said barrel element.

10. For use, in marking apparatus, an indexing device comprising a casing having one end of a shaft journaled therein, an eccentric cam secured to the last-named shaft for rotation therewith, said cam having at least one high portion and one low portion, a follower arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends onto said casing, said follower arm having a roller on one end operatively engaged with said cam, a compression spring mounted on said casing and engaging the other end of said follower arrn, said last-named spring urging said follower ar-m roller into engagement with said cam, the lever arm of said follower arm between said roller and the pivotal mounting being longer than the lever arm on the spring side thereof,

said casing surrounding said cam and partially enclosing said follower arm; a marking wheel having a rim and a radially extending rim-supporting member, said casing being secured to the rim-supporting member of said wheel with the last-named shaft projecting through said rimsupporting member in coaxial relation to said rim.

11. For use in a marking apparatus, a marking wheel having a rim and a radially extending rim-supporting portion, indexing mechanism secured to said rim-supporting portion; said indexing mechanism including a shaft about which said Wheel is rotatable, an eccentric cam fixedly mounted on said shaft, and means secured to said rim-supporting portion and engageable with said cam for yieldably urging said wheel to a given rotational position.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 including a circumferentially extending drive element on said wheel, rubber type on said wheel spaced axially from said drive element, said drive element being of rubber material and more compressible than said type, whereby engagement of a conveyed article by said drive element results in rotation 7/1890 Ray 197175 7/1949 Thomas 242116 WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner.

10 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Examiner.

H. DINITZ, Assistant Examiner,

Claims (1)

1. 6. A MARKING APPARATUS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED FRAME ADAPTED AT ONE END TO BE STATIONARILY MOUNTED, AN ELONGATED ARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ONE END ON SAID FRAME BETWEEN THE ENDS OF AND FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE LATTER, A MARKING WHEEL MOUNTED ON THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID ARM FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID ARM, MEANS FOR LIMITING THE SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID ARM AWAY FROM SAID FRAME, MEANS YIELDABLY URGING SAID ARM AWAY FROM SAID FRAME, AN ADJUSTING SHAFT HAVING A JOURNAL PORTION MOUNTED FOR ROTATION IN SAID ARM AND HAVING AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID MARKING WHEEL, MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID ADJUSTING SHAFT IN AN ADJUSTED ROTATIONAL POSITION, SAID SHAFT HAVING AN ECCENTRIC SHAFT EXTENSION THEREON WHICH EXTENDS BEYOND SAID ARM, AN INKING-ROLL DEVICE

Images