US3545587A

US3545587A - Embossing tool with die members formed in endless chain

Info

Publication number: US3545587A
Application number: US696937A
Authority: US
Inventors: Otto R Urbach; Hans Kraayenhof
Original assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: 3M Co
Priority date: 1968-01-10
Filing date: 1968-01-10
Publication date: 1970-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 1987-12-08
Also published as: GB1259133A; NL6818878A; ES144356Y; DE1817673A1; CH508490A; FR2000103A1; DE1817673C3; JPS4928133B1; ES144356U; DE1817673B2; AT298526B

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors ()fl0R.U1bflCh 3.010,387 11/1961 Deutsch l0l/111X Dusseldorf, Germany; 3.155.215 11/1964 Avery.. 197/6] HansKraayenhol,Son, Netherlands ,164,086 1/1965 Keck 101/111 [21 Appl. No 696,937 3.239.048 3/1966 Bogerus .1 l97/6.7

122] Filed Jan. 10,1968 .327.623 6/1967 Diegel.................. 101/18 [451 Patented Dec. 8, 1970 3339.694 9/1967 Travaglio 197/6 7 [73] Assignee Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing 3.414.102 12/1968 Norvelle. 197/6.7

Company FOREIGN PATENTS 547,391 9/1932 Germany... 101/111 Delaware 1.348,461 12/1963 France 101/111 Primary Examiner-Edgar S. Burr AttorneyKinney, Alexander, Sell, Steldt & DeLaHunt 154] EMBOSSING TOOL WITH DIE MEMBERS s g fig gfisggi f ABSTRACT: A tool for use in embossing a polymeric strip material to form labels mcludmg relatively movable housmgs U-S- Cli supported a election and embossing device in- 97/971 9 cluding an endless chain formed of individual die members lllL Clconnected flexible links and positioned to follow an oval- Field search-W shaped path. The housings are separable to insert the strip I01/ material within the housings and within the oval path. A

driven feed roller is biased into en a ement with an idler [56] References Cited roller to feed the tape and is separa le from the idler roller UNITED STATES PATENTS upon separating the housings to permit threading of the strip 1 1.368,169 2/1921 Arkin et a1 101/18 material. The selection and embossing device is driven by an 2,096,340 10/ 1937 Richeson... 101/111 external knob joumaled on one of the housings and engaging 2.101.444 12/1937 Miles 101/111 the chain.

III

II III) PATENTED on: 81970 SHEET 1 [IF 2 5 JWHMM m k 7 0 U W WA RP K w m m EMBOSSING TOOL WITH DIE MEMBERS FORMED IN ENDLESS CHAIN SPECIFICATION This invention relates to an embossing tool for use in embossing characters on a strip of material or tape such as described in US. Pat. No. 2,925,625 and in one aspect relates to a hand-held tool actuatable by squeezing pressure to emboss a strip material and subsequently incrementally advance the strip material.

Prior art embossing tools of this type ordinarily use large generally superimposed circular disks on which are arranged in the proximity of their outer periphery the embossing dies to form characters such as letters, numbers, and the like. Examples of these devices are shown in US. Pat. Nos. 3,155,2l; 3,006,451; and 3,276,559. These relatively large disks on the circular peripheral surface make the tools inconvenient to handle because of the size of the circular disk on which the embossing dies are located. Additionally, it is difficult in cases of predetermined sized characters and uniform distribution of the same along the periphery of the circular disk to add to the disk additional characters as is often necessary, for example, when exporting devices of-this type into countries whose language requires additional characters.

Another form of embossing tool which uses a generally circular support (see U.S. Pat: No. 3,330,397) utilizes a web upon which the dies forming the characters is placed and this web is disposed around a large circular drum positioned near the mouth of the tool. This construction is relatively undesirable in that it uses a circular disk projecting outward from the tool, making the tool cumbersome and does not afford versatility in the number of characters of a predetermined size which may be used.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior known tools and provides a tool which functions to emboss the tape commensurate with that of prior known tools.

The tool constructed in accordance with the present invention incorporates several novel features, one of which is its slenderness and compactness and the lack of outwardly projecting parts, causing it to be difficult to package, carry, and store.

The present invention has as one of its features the use of a chainlike selection and embossing device, including one or more endless chainlike members'having individual die members connected by flexible links, disposed within the tool and following an oval path as the device is moved within the tool to select the desired characters to be embossed on the strip material.

The tool of the present invention has as another feature the fact that the number of characters of a desired size may be changed, to lengthen or shorten the chains and not require or result in any change in the size or tool design.

A further feature of the present invention is that a supply of the strip material, preferably provided in a cartridge and wound upon itself, may be inserted conveniently within the body of the tool by simply separating the housing forming the lever, which imparts the embossing force to the die members, from the main body member of the tool. This separation also separates the feed rollers for the tape permitting easy threading of the tape when gaining access to the storage area.

The tool of the present invention is also provided with means which assure registration of the individual die members at the embossing station and which afford easy positioning of the guide member by affording a resistance to rotation of the selection knob.

The tool of the present invention is also provided with a ring permitting the tool to be tied in place or secured to a cord or belt of the user to prevent displacement and loss of the tool.

The above and further advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood after reading the following detailed description which refers to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embossing tool formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embossing tool;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary detail view of one modification of the device shown in FIGS. 1 through 5; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary detail view of a further modification of the device shown in FIGS. 1 through 5.

The embossing tool, generally designated by the reference numeral 10 comprises a slender main upper body member of housing 11 and a mating lower housing 12 which are pivotally connected at their forward ends and are formed with a slidable catch at the rearmost ends. The contour of the rear portion of the upper housing 11 is formed such that the tool may be grasped in one hand with the rear portion of the upper housing between the thumb and forefinger and the fingers wrapped around the lower housing 12 to exert a squeezing action on the tool 10 causing the lower housing 12 to swing into the upper housing 11 and sewing as a lever to emboss a piece of tape as will hereinafter be described. Positioned forwardly from the midpoint of the tool 10 and journaled in the upper wall or portion of housing 12 is a rotatable knob 13 permitting selection by the user of various characters desired to be embossed upon the tape. The user may view the characters and position selected characters at an embossing station within the tool by observing the position of the characters through windowlike openings 15, 16, and 17 formed in the upper portion of the housing 11 forward of the knob 13. By operating the knob 13 to register a character such as the letter A in the window 15, and squeezing the body of the tool, the operator will emboss the letter A upon the tape. The character indicated in window 15 is offset from the die members which produce the embossed character. Windows 16 and 17 serve to aid the operator in locating other characters and reduce the amount of adjustment for the knob 13 necessary to place a desired character in register with the window 15.

The characters are formed on the tape by individual mating dies formed on superimposed endless beltlike or

chainlike members

18 and 19, hereinafter referred to as chains, positioned in parallel planes. The upper chain 18 and lower chain 19 are guided about an oval-shaped path within the housing 11. The housing 11 is formed of a suitable polymeric material and has an inner cavity, the sidewalls of which together with guide members 21, 22, and 23 form an oval-shaped path for the chains within the cavity of the housing 11. A generally U- shaped guide plate 24 is secured within the housing 11 and disposed beneath the lower embossing chain 19 to aid in retaining the chains in place with the bight portion 26 of the guide member 24 disposed toward the rear of the tool at one end of the oval-shaped path. The bight portion 26 has a width greater than the width of the chains to accommodate chains of slightly longer or shorter lengths in the same tool housing. Vertically extending guides are molded in the housing 11 and are spaced to accommodate different length chains.

The

chains

18 and 19 are shown in FIG. 4 and are illustrated as one-piece units comprising die members 27 joined by thin flexible sections or links 28. The die members and links could be separate parts joined by pins or dovetail pivoted points; however the single molded form is preferred. The die members can be made from metallic or nonmetallic material. Each of the individual embossing die members 27 has an outer head portion with the die formed on one of the axially opposite planar working faces, and has an inner bifurcated portion forming a tooth rack with the teeth extending in an axial direction affording movement of the chains in response to the rotation of knob 13. As illustrated in FIG. 3 and 4 the members 27 of the upper chain 18 are formed with female dies on the lower face and the lower chain 19 has male dies formed on the upper face of each member 27. The chains may also have a member forming one part of a tape cutting and tabbing knife, the upper chain carrying spaced cutting blades and the lower chain being formed with an anvil.

The knob 13 has an upper hollow cylindrical head portion 31 with an outer fluted periphery, permitting the same to be easily grasped by the user and rotated. The inner surface 32 of the knob is formed with circumferentially spaced ridges and grooves which engage an upstanding resilient post 33 formed integrally with the housing 11. The post 33 is formed to flex and permit rotation of the knob but has sufficient stiffness to return to a normal position between said ridges such that as the user turns the knob he will feel the degree of rotation imparted to the knob which will indicate the movement of the flexible chains to position successive members at the embossing station. Depending'from the central portion of head 31 is a shank 34 which extends through and is journaled in an opening 35 formed in the housing 11. Secured to the extended end of the shank 34 is a pinion 37 formed with circumferentially extending and axially spaced sets of teeth engageable with the bifurcated ends of the individual members on the

chains

18 and 19. Positioned between the sets of teeth is a disk-shaped section 38 fitting between the

chains

18 and 19 and separating the same by an amount equal to the axial dimension of the disk 38. Positioned below the pinion 37 and secured thereto and to the shank 34 is a collar 39 which aids to guide the lower chain 19 and maintain the same in engagement with the lower set of teeth on the pinion 37. A washer 41 is forced on the shank 34 to secure the pinion 37 and collar 39 thereto. The collar 39 is also formed with generally radially extending slots 42 which cooperate with a post 43 upstanding from the lower plate 71 of the housing 12. The post 43 and the slots 42 prevent rotation of the knob 13 and movement of the

chains

18 and 19 subsequent to squeezing the housing of the embossing tool to perform an embossing step. These members also ensure proper registration of the embossing members during operation of the tool.

A cavity is also formed within the housing 11 for receiving a cartridge 45 and/or a wound roll of embossable tape 46. This cavity is located within the oval path of the

chains

18 and 19 and is defined by the guide plate 24 and by wall members 47 and 48. The forward wall member 48 depends to a position below the lower periphery of the housing 11 and serves as a guide for the tape 46 directing the same from the cartridge under the collar 39 to a position between a driven feed roller 51 and an idler roller 52 to the embossing station defined at the front portion of the housing 11. The housing 11 is formed at the forward end with a recessed area 53 communicating with the interior of the housing 11 through an opening 54 formed in the bottom of the recess through which the tape will exit onto a base 55 of said recess upon being embossed at the embossing station located immediately within the housing adjacent the opening 54. Positioned within the housing 11 at the extreme forward portion thereof immediately under the base 55 of the recessed area 53 are bosses forming a journal for trunnions 56 and 57 at the forward end of a feel roll supporting frame 57. The frame 57 includes transversely spaced plates 58 and 59in which are formed alined openings journaling a spool 51, having a gear wheel 62 and a coaxially spaced ratchet wheel 63 formed thereon, and the feed wheel 51. The gear wheel 62 meshes with a gear wheel 64 formed on a spool 65 which also includes the coaxially spaced feed wheel 51. The frame 57 is preferably formed of a polymeric material, and depending from each plate 58 and 59 is a finger 68 which engages the bottom wall 71 of the lower housing 12 and urges the feed wheel 51 toward the idler wheel 52 which is suitably journalled in the upper housing 11. Onto the plate 58 is also formed a catch 72 which extends downwardly from the plate to engage the teeth on the ratchet wheel 63 preventing rotation of the ratchet wheel in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 3.

Actuation of the ratchet wheel to afford incremental advancement of the tape 46 is afforded by a pawl extending upwardly from the plate 71 of the housing 12. Upon each actuation of the tool by squeezing on the housings 11 and 12, the housing 12 moves into the housing 11, and pawl 73 will be advanced along the ratchet wheel 63, with the catch 72 holding the ratchet wheel stationary. and upon subsequent return of the housing 12 to the position shown in H0. 3 under the bias of a helical compression spring 75 positioned between the rear portions of the housings 11 and 12, the pawl 73 will engage a tooth on the ratchet wheel 63 rotating the same in a clockwise direction and the feed wheel 51 in a counterclockwise direction, advancing the tape in an increment sufficient to move the then-embossed section of the tape outwardly from the embossing station into the recessed portion 53. The number of teeth and the tooth orientation on the ratchet wheel will depend upon the size of the symbols to be embossed since the required degree of linear advance of the tape is dependent upon the width of the symbol. Movement of the housing 12 a distance sufficient to advance the pawl 73 to a successive tooth on the ratchet wheel 63, and less than the distance necessary to perform the embossing step will advance the tape to form a space thereon between embossed characters.

As previously mentioned, the housing 12 is pivotally joined to the housing 11 at their forward ends. The housing 12 has a hook formed at its forward end which fits between the plates 58 and 59 of the frame 57 and over a cylindrical portion thereof coaxially alined with the trunnions 56. Disposed just rearward of the hook or curred forward end portion of the housing 11 and joined thereto are webs 75 which converge and form a die actuating projection 76 which is positioned at the embossing station below the lower chain 19. This projection 76, upon relative pivotal movement of housings 11 and 12, causes flexure of the chain 19, forcing the member 27 thereof and male die face positioned at the embossing station upwardly against the tape and into engagement with the cooperating female die on chain 18 to emboss the tape. The housing 11 is also formed at its rear end with a catch 81 which holds the housings 11 and 12 together against the bias of the return spring 75. The catch is formed from the material forming the housing 12, and cooperates with projecting shelf 82 formed interiorly of the housing 11, as shown most clearly in FIG. 3, to prevent the normal separation of the housings.

To insert a cartridge 54 of tape 46 within the tool, the catch 81 is forced inward to free it from the shelf 82 and the housing 11, frame 57, and supported feed roller 51 will be pivoted away from the housing 11. This will permit access to the cartridge cavity. Also, this will separate the driven feed roller from the idler roller 52 and will expose the space between the

chains

18 and 19 at the embossing station to permit easy threading of the free end of the tape to the opening 54. Return movement of the actuating lever or housing 12 thus returns the feed rolls to operative position and encloses the tape within the tool.

The tool 10 is also provided with a carrying or securing means in the form of a ring 84 which is fitted in the housing 12 through openings in the plate 71. The ring 84 may be withdrawn through the openings, from its position illustrated in FIG. 3, to permit the tool to be hung on a hook or to permit a cord to be tied thereto for securing the tool to a table orbench.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modification of the tool with respect to the embossing means. In this embodiment, the upper chain 85 may be formed identically to the chain 18 with each die member having a female form. Positioned above the actuating projection and on the underside of the tape at the embossing station is a block 86 of elastomeric material which is deformable, but of sufficient stiffness to force the tape into the die causing an embossment thereof.

FIG. 7 shows a further modification wherein an upper chain 87 is formed of an elastomeric material and the lower chain 88 conforms to the chain 19 carrying male die members. The projection 89 thus forces the male die against the liner side of the tape and the tape against the resistance of the elastomeric chain 87 to emboss the tape. The upper chain 87 will in this instance also carry visible characters, representing but offset from the actual die on belt 88.

Having thus described the present invention with referenceto the drawing, illustrating a preferred embodiment and modifications, it will be understood that further may be made by those skilled in the art without imparting from the spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim:

l. A-tool for embossing strip material comprising:

a slender body member having wall means defining interiorly thereof an oval-shaped planar path extending lengthwise of said body member and defining an embossing station adjacent one end of said path and of said body member;

endless chain means, comprising a plurality of individual die members linked together by flexible members, each die member having a planar working face upon which is formed a die, said chain means being disposed along said path with said planar working faces of said die members disposed in a common plane and with one die member of said chain means being disposed at said embossing station and the remaining dies-being positioned along said oval path for at least a substantial portion of the length thereof;

drive means extending from the exterior of said body member into the interior thereof and within and generally perpendicular to the plane .of said endless chain for contacting said endless chain means to advance said die members along said path to selectively position individual die members at said embossing station;

guide means positioned in said body member for positioning and guiding a said strip' material from a supply within said body member throughsaid embossing station;

a housing pivotally joined to said body member at said one end for pivotal movement relative to said body member and releasably connected'to said body member at the other end to permit separation and access to the interior of said body member for inserting said strip material, said housing having actuating means joined thereto and positioned adjacent said embossing station and cooperable' with a said die member at said embossing station and a said strip to cause an embossment to be made on a said strip material at said embossing station; and

V feeding means for a said strip material for moving the strip material along said guide means to and through said embossing station, said feeding means being operative to advance the strip material subsequent to each embossing operation,

2. A tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said endless chain means comprises a pair of superimposed members one of which is formed with individual female die members disposed in a planar path and the other is formed with male die members disposed in a path parallel and in opposed relationship to said planar path.

3. A tool as defined inclaim 2 wherein said feeding means comprises:

an idler roller joumaled in the body member; and

a driven roller urged into driving engagement with said idler roller.

4. A tool as defined in claim 3 wherein said driven roller is mounted on a frame pivotally'connected to said body member at said one end, and wherein means connected to said frame and positioned to engage said housing urges said driven roller toward said idler roller when said housing is connected to said body member at said other end, and ratchet and pawl means are provided for driving said driven roller in response to relative movement of said body member and said housing.

5, A tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said endless chain means comprises a single endless chain of said individual die members which cooperate with a resilient member at the embossing station to emboss a said strip material.

6. A tool as defined in claim 5 wherein said drive means comprises a knob rotatably mounted in said body member and pinion means, rotatable with said knob, positioned within the periphery of said chain to engage said inner portions of said die members for driving said chain along said oval path upon rotation of said knob. V

7. A tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said endless chain means comprises an endless chain of individual die members and flexible links integrally joined, with each die member having a head portion having opposite faces, on one of which faces is formed the die, and a bifurcated inner portion forming, together with the inner portions of adjacent members, a toothed rack affording drivemeans for said chain.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,5 5,587 Dated June 4, 1971 Inventofls) Otto R. Urbach and Hans Kraavenhof It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 61, "points' should be Joints Column 4, line 2 "curred" should be curved 7 Column 5, line 1, after "further" the word modifications should be inserted.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of September 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDI'JARD M.FLETCHER, J'R. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Pate