US3753482A - Automatic push button tape embossing machine - Google Patents

Automatic push button tape embossing machine Download PDF

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Publication number
US3753482A
US3753482A US00141643A US3753482DA US3753482A US 3753482 A US3753482 A US 3753482A US 00141643 A US00141643 A US 00141643A US 3753482D A US3753482D A US 3753482DA US 3753482 A US3753482 A US 3753482A
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Prior art keywords
embossing
tape
wheel
station
array
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US00141643A
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English (en)
Inventor
M Brown
E Beers
A Nicole
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Dymo Industries Inc
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Dymo Industries Inc
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J5/00—Devices or arrangements for controlling character selection
    • B41J5/02—Character or syllable selected by setting an index
    • B41J5/04—Single-character selection
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/38—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for embossing, e.g. for making matrices for stereotypes

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT Apparatus for successively embossing characters onto a tape in response to depression of keys representative of the characters is described.
  • the apparatus includes a rectangular keyboard and an embossing wheel having about its periphery an annular array of embossing dies corresponding to the characters to be produced.
  • the embossing wheel is normally continually rotated during operation of the mechanism, and each of the keys has a stem which cooperates with a stop on the embossing wheel for interrupting the rotation of the wheel with the proper die positioned at an embossing station upon the depression of any one of the keys.
  • a cam assembly is activated by the depression of one of the keys to then cause the character positioned at the embossing station to be embossed on a tape located at such station and also to advance the tape through the embossing station for appropriately spacing successively embossed characters.
  • the present invention relates to character embossing mechanisms and, more particularly, to such a mechanism enabling keyboard selection of characters for automatic embossing onto a base substance such as a tape.
  • Apparatus for forming letters or other characters on a base substance by embossing are becoming widely used.
  • One of the more popular types is that which includes embossing dies for forming letters on a tape made from a plastic material which changes its characteristic color upon being stretched.
  • the apparatus forms the letters upon the tape by stretching the same with the embossing dies at the location at which the letters are desired.
  • the resulting letters will not only be raised from the surface of the tape but also of a different color than the background color of the tape.
  • tape embossing apparatuses of this type can now be found in many homes and small offices, commercial and industrial use of the same has been limited.
  • One of the primary reasons for their limited commercial and industrial use is that the apparatuses now available are relatively slow in their operation. This is beenase in order to reduce costs and make the apparatus relatively simple, most of such apparatuses have the dies for the various letters to be produced located around the periphery of an embossing wheel.
  • the embossing wheel is rotatable about its axis to enable selective positioning of a desired embossing die at an embossing station at which the substance to be embossed is located. Then the die at the station is activated to provide the desired embossed character.
  • the present invention is an automatic character embossing apparatus which enables keyboard selection by the operator of the characters to be embossed and yet retains the advantages inherent in the use of a rotatable embossing wheel.
  • the apparatus includes, as is conventional, an embossing station and means for passing through the embossing station a base substance such as an elongated embossing tape upon which it is desired to emboss characters.
  • An array of embossing dies corresponding to the individual characters to be produced is also provided, as well as an array of depression keys representative of such characters.
  • the invention includes means which is associated with the array of embossing dies for coaction with the stem of any depressed key to locate the appropriate one of the dies corresponding to the character to be produced at the embossing station.
  • the die of the desired character is properly positioned at the embossing station by the operator merely depressing the appropriate key.
  • the array of embossing dies are provided as a circular array, such as on an embossing wheel as has been done in the past, and the depression keys are arranged as a rectangular array.
  • Such a construction enables simple keyboard operation by an operator while yet retaining the advantages of providing the dies in a circular array.
  • the apparatus of the invention preferably is also made to automatically provide the complete embossing operation upon depression of the key corresponding to the desired character.
  • the array of embossing dies are normally continually rotated when the apparatus is in operation, and the positioning means is a stop which is associated with the array of dies and which is engageable with the stem of any depressed key to interrupt rotation of the array when the proper die is positioned at the embossing station.
  • Means are provided for then automatically activating the embossing mechanism at the embossing station to emboss the character on the base substance.
  • Means are also included for automatically advancing the base substance, such as the tape, through the embossing station either before or after the embossing operation to space apart successive characters.
  • the mechanism for advancing the base substance includes means for sensing which key is responsible for the interruption of rotation of the die array and then advancing the base substance a distance which corresponds to the dimension of the character in the direction of travel of such substance. The result is that the spacing on the base substance for each of the letters or characters is dependent on the size of the character.
  • FIG. 1 is an oblique perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an automatic tape embossing apparatus of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is another oblique perspective view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the embossing station cover exploded away and the keyboard assembly and the tape cartridge cover in open positions to reveal the embossing wheel and other elements of the apparatus;
  • FIG. 3 is a vertically exploded isometric view of the apparatus with portions broken away and removed to illustrate various components thereof;
  • FIG. 4 is a vertically exploded view of the keyboard assembly of the preferred embodiment of the invention with details of all of the key assemblies, except one, being omitted for simplicity;
  • FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the keyboard assembly of the preferred embodiment taken substantially along a plane indicated by the lines 5-5 in FIG. 6;
  • FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the keyboard assembly with parts thereof broken away at various levels to reveal underlying elements of the assembly;
  • FIG. 7 is a fragmentary and simplified perspective view showing one typical key of the keyboard assembly and its relationship, when depressed, with the embossing wheel;
  • FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the invention with parts broken away and removed for clarity;
  • FIG. 9 is a simplified bottom plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the bottom cover removed to illustrate various elements thereof;
  • FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the embossing and tape advance cam assembly and the slip clutch arrangement for integrating the cam assembly onto the main drive shaft;
  • FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the tape cut-off cam assembly including its slip clutch arrangement for integrating it onto the main drive shaft;
  • FIG. 12A is an exploded isometric view of the major drive elements of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1; and FIGS. 12B and 12C are cross-sectional views thereof taken on planes indicated respectively by the lines l2B-12B and 12C12C;
  • FIG. 13 is a reduced isometric view of some of the components of the embodiment'of FIG. 1 responsible for initiating the tape advance and embossing mechanisms upon interruption of the rotation of the embossing wheel;
  • FIG. 14 is a reduced isometric view of the major drive elements providing embossing ofa tape at the embossing station;
  • FIG. 15 is a reduced isometric view of several of the elements of the embodiment of FIG. 1 providing advancement of a tape prior to a portion of it having a desired message being severed from the remainder of the tape;
  • FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along a plane indicated by the lines l6l6 in FIG. 8 with certain portions broken away and not shown for clarity;
  • FIG. 17 is a vertical cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 16 taken on a plane indicated by' the lines 17-17 in FIG. 8 with certain portions broken away and not shown for clarity;
  • FIG. 18 is a fragmentary view of the underside of the embossing wheel taken on a plane indicated substantially by the lines 18l8 in FIG. 8 and illustrating a portion of the sensing means for indicating which key is depressed and providing for advance of the tape a predetermined amount dependent upon the particular character to be embossed.
  • FIGS. l-3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is first made to FIGS. l-3 for a general overall description of a preferred automatic tape embossing apparatus of the invention.
  • a rectangular casing generally referred to by the reference numeral 11 and made up ofan upper main body portion 12 and bottom cover 13, is provided for housing the electrical and mechanical components of the apparatus.
  • a keyboard assembly 14 is mounted on the top of casing 11 at a location at which access to the same is facilitated.
  • the keyboard assembly 14 is made up of a plurality of rows and columns of depression keys 16 (only a few of which are shown) arranged in a rectangular array.
  • Each of the keys 16 is representative of one of the letters or, in a broader sense, characters it is desired to emboss on a tape and, as is explained in more detail hereinafter, each key is arranged upon depression to initiate the mechanism of the apparatus to locate the appropriate embossing die corresponding to the depressed key at an embossing station and thereafter carry out the remaining action necessary to provide embossment of the character on the tape.
  • keyboard assembly 14 is pivotally mounted adjacent its rear edge to the casing 11 by means of a piano hinge 17.
  • a tape cartridge cover 18 is also pivotally mounted to the casing 11 via a pivot pin 19, and both the key assembly 14 and cartridge cover 18 are normally locked in their closed positions by latches 21 having push-button spring releases 22.
  • latches 21 having push-button spring releases 22.
  • both the key assembly 14 and tape cartridge cover 18 are in the open position shown in FIG. 2, they reveal certain of the other mechanical components of the apparatus.
  • a character embossing wheel 23 directly underneath the keyboard assembly 14 is a character embossing wheel 23 which is mounted for rotation on a wheel drive shaft 24.
  • wheel 23 is provided with a pluraltiy of dies for forming the desired characters on the embossing tape.
  • Means are provided for passing an embossing tape on which it is desired to form characters through the embossing station 28.
  • a cavity 31 is provided in casing 1 1 adapted to receive a standard tape roll cartridge from which embossing tape can be dispensed.
  • a tape feed wheel 32 is provided with a roughened or ser rated peripheral edge surface 33 for frictional engagement with tape from a cartridge in cavity 31 to feed the same into and through a tape guide chute 34.
  • a pinch roller assembly 36 mounted within cover 18 spring loads a pinch roller 37 against feed wheel surface 33 at a location at which it will urge the tape into tight frictional engagement with wheel 32 (See FIGS. 2 and 8).
  • tape guide chute 34 has a bridge portion passing between the upper and lower wheel rings 26 and 27 of the embossing wheel 23 for guiding the tape therebetween to and through the embossing station 28.
  • the actual embossing operation at the station 28 is effected by forcing the radial die leaf 35 of the lower ring 27 upward to mate with the female die of the upper ring to cause the mating die forms of the desired character to deform and distort the tape therebetween.
  • the means for actuating the embossing does so automatically at the proper sequence when a key is depressed and will be described in detail hereinafter.
  • the apparatus of the invention also includes means for severing a length of the tape from the remainder thereof after the length has had desired characters embossed thereon.
  • the cut-off operation occurs at a cut-off station 38 located in the path of travel of the tape at a position after the embossing station 28.
  • the cut-off operation is initiated by depression of a cut-off initiation button or bar 39 which protrudes from the upper surface of casing body 12 adjacent its front end. Depression of bar 39 activates mechanism to be subsequently described to first advance the tape and then provide the desired cut-off operation.
  • Means are also provided for advancing the tape a predetermined amount when desired to provide additional spacing between characters, such as to provide the spacing normally found between words. Such mechanisms will be described in detail later and are activated by the depression of a space button or bar 41 protruding through the upper surface of casing body 12.
  • a rotatable control knob 42 projects from the front of casing body 12 and is mounted on the free end of axially rotatable rod or shaft 43 which is secured to the center of tape advance wheel 32. It will be appreciated that with this arrangement manual rotation of knob 42 will result in a corresponding rotation of wheel 32 and a consequent advancing of any tape in frictional engagement with such wheel.
  • one of the more important features of the invention is the provision of a keyboard assembly emabling keyboard selection of a character to be embossed on the tape while yet retaining the advantageous features inherent in the use of an embossing wheel to locate the individual dies at the embossing station.
  • This is accomplished by providing a rectangular array of selection keys which cooperate with the embossing wheel to properly position the selected die at the embossing station.
  • the positioning is preferably obtained by mounting the embossing wheel for rotation about its axis and, hence, the axis of the annular array of dies thereon, and providing means for normally rotating the wheel about such axis so that the dies pass successively through the embossing station.
  • the keys include stems which are engageable with a stop means associated with the embossing wheel to interrupt rotation of the wheel when the die corresponding to the depressed key is positioned at the embossing station. Then the tape advance and embossing mechanisms are automatically activated to provide the embossed character on the tape at the appropriate location.
  • FIGS. 8 and 9 for a description of the means for normally continually rotating the embossing wheel 23.
  • a motor 46 is enclosed within the casing for the apparatus to provide the power for rotation of the embossing wheel as well as to power the other mechanisms of the apparatus. As is illustrated, power from motor 46 is delivered via positive drive pulley 47 and positive drive belt 48 to a driven pulley 49 on a horizontal main drive shaft 51.
  • Drive shaft 51 is journalled for rotation in suitable bearings in support plates 52 and 53 mounted vertically in casing 11. The end of drive shaft 51 in adjacent support plate 53 has a spur gear 54 rigidly mounted thereon which is in engagement with an idler gear 56.
  • Idler gear 56 includes a beveled gear portion 57 in contact with a beveled gear 58 on the lower end of the vertical embossing wheel drive shaft 24. It will be seen that in view of this drive shaft and gear arrangement, power from motor 46 is transmitted to the main drive shaft 51 to rotate the same and then to rotate embossing wheel drive shaft 24. Thus, whenever motor 46 is energized, rotary power is transmitted to the embossing wheel to rotate the same.
  • FIGS. 4 7 The keyboard assembly and its relationship to the embossing wheel is shown in detail in FIGS. 4 7.
  • Such assembly includes a base and guide housing 61 having an upwardly extending wall enclosure 62 defining a rectangular cavity 63 for receiving other components of the key assembly.
  • a key support plate 64 is spaced above the cavity bottom surface or guide partition 66 by lugs 67 and cooperating bolts 68 and spacing collars 69.
  • each of the individual keys includes a push-button 71 from which a stem portion 72 depends.
  • the pushbutton portions 71 are arranged in a rectangular array (see FIG. 4) above support plate 64, and the key stems 72 extend downwardly therefrom and through apertures 73 in plate 64.
  • the guide partition 66 is provided with shaped guide passages 74 which receive correspondingly shaped end portions on the keys to guide translational movement thereof.
  • the guide passages 74 and the cooperating key end portions are so shaped to provide a particular key end portion array correlated to the location of the dies on the embossing wheel to assure that the proper die is located at the embossing station upon the depression of any one of the keys.
  • a compression spring 75 is also provided for each key, surrounding the stem 72 thereof and located between push-button 71 and the support plate 64. Such springs act to normally maintain the keys in their non-depressed conditions.
  • a spring loaded lock plate 76 is located between support plate 64 and guide partition 66.
  • Lock plate 76 has aper tures 77 through which the stems of all of the keys extend except for those keys in the left hand row as viewed in FIG. 6.
  • the lock plate 76 is also provided with slots 78 which receive lug portions 79 on the spacers 67.
  • a pair of tension springs 81 are connected between one side of the lock plate 76 and tabs 82 depending downward from support plate 64. Such springs act to resiliently urge the plate 76 to the left as viewed in FIG.
  • each of the key stems 72 includes a conical camming surface 83 which flares outwardly toward the push-button portion 71 of the key.
  • each camming surface 83 Upon depression of any one key, the camming surface 83 thereof translationally displaces the lock plate to the right as viewed in FIG. 6 against the pressure of tension springs 81.
  • a cylindrical locking shoulcler 84 is provided which is engageable by the lock plate after it has been translationally displaced by the camming surface. That is, the locking shoulder is defined by a portion of the stem having a reduced diameter relative to the camming surface which permits the plate to return under the tension of springs 81 to the left and block return of the key to its non-depressed condition.
  • Key 85 is depicted in both FIGS. and 6 locked in such depressed condition. The depressed key will be maintained in its depressed condition by the lock plate until it is released.
  • a release tab 86 extends downwardly from the lock plate through a slot 88 in the base partition 66. After completion of an embossing operation tab 86 is engaged by an upwardly extending ear 87 to translate the lock plate to the right as viewed in FIG. 5 and release the depressed key so that it can return to its non-depressed position. Ear 87 is motivated by means subsequently to be described.
  • the embossing wheel includes stop means extending radially thereof.
  • stop means is in the form of an elongated stop bar 91 which projects upwardly from the upper surface of wheel ring 26.
  • the stem 72 of each of the keys includes at its end a stop portion 92 adapated to be placed in the path of the bar 91 upon the key being depressed. As shown in FIG. 7, upon the bar coming into contact with the stop 92 of the depressed key, the rotation of the embossing wheel will be interrupted.
  • the angular position of the wheel when its rotation is stopped by any particular key is correlated with the location on the wheel of the die forms corresponding to the character represented by the key so that such die forms are located at the embossing station.
  • depression of any key acts to position the appropriate die of the die array at the embossing station for imparting the character defined thereby on the tape.
  • one of the more salient features of the instant invention is that it includes a rectangular keyboard assembly to facilitate operation and yet retains an annular array of dies on an embossing wheel and its advantages.
  • the manner in which the key stems are designed to transmit information from the rectangular keyboard assembly to the wheel is best depicted in FIG. 6.
  • the keys adjacent the corners of the rectangular array have guide end portions adapted to ride in the key passages 73 through the guide partition 66, which guide end portions extend inwardly toward the center of the array.
  • the stems of the remainder of the keys include guide portions which also properly locate the end stops 92 thereon at appropriate locations both annularly and radially of the path of travel of the stop bar 91 on the embossing wheel.
  • a large number of individual keys can be accommodated with only one stop bar being associated with the annular array of dies.
  • a total of 56 character keys are provided and are accommodated by an embossing wheel having a radius to the annular array of dies of about 3 inches.
  • the drive projection 99 and its complimentary depression in the wheel 23 are shaped with coacting cam surfaces so that when rotation of the embossing wheel 23 is interrupted by depression of a key, the wheel driver 97 is cammed downward along the shaft against the compression of the spring 98 as the shaft 59 continues to rotate.
  • This downward movement of wheel driver 97 is used to activate a tape advance and embossing cam assembly, generally referred to by the reference numeral 101.
  • Such cam assembly 101 is axially mounted on main drive shaft 51 and in its unactivated mode does not rotate therewith.
  • a double spring clutch assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 102, and clutch release bail 103 (FIG. 13) are provided for integrating the clutch assembly 101 with the shaft 51 upon downward movement of wheel driver collar 97.
  • the clutch release bail 103 is pivotally mounted by a pin 104 to support plate 53 and has a projecting lever arm 106 on the end of which is a roller 107. As is illustrated, roller 107 is received within an annular groove 108 in driver 97. Because of this engagement of the roller 107 within the groove 108, upon vertical motion of wheel driver 97 on shaft 59, clutch release bail 103 is made to correspondingly pivot about the axis 109 of pin 104.
  • Clutch release bail 103 has at its lower end an outwardly projecting ear 110 which when the embossing wheel 23 is rotating and the wheel drive 97 is correspondingly in its upward position is in contact with a radially extending lug or rib 111 on a feed drive sleeve 112.
  • shaft 51 is free to rotate with respect to drive sleeve 112, and such sleeve is connected to one end of a clutch spring 113, the other end of which is secured to the cam assembly 101.
  • Spring 113 is coiled about a drive hub 114 which is pinned to shaft 51 for rotation therewith and also about a collar portion 116, on cam assembly 101.
  • clutch release bail 103 has at its lower rear end a roller 115 which follows radial camming surface 120 on cam 101. After initiation of a clutch cycle cam surface 120 rises to hold the clutch release bail 103 in its activated position. This serves to relieve the force necessary to maintain the driver in its lower position and to keep ear 1 out of contact with the drive sleeve 114. Near the end of the cycle the clutch release bail 103 is allowed to return to its normal position by cam surface 120 so that the wheel drive and the radial lug 111 can reengage.
  • an index lever 121 is hung from the underneath surface of casing upper wall 122 by a pair of studs 123.
  • a cam follower roller 124 projecting downward from index lever 121 is maintained in engagement with a side cam face 126 on the main cam 127 of cam assembly 101 by a tension spring 128 secured between the lever 12] and support plate 53.
  • the index lever is connected to the studs 123 via slots which permit reciprocal translation of the index lever in a manner enabling the cam follower roller 124 to remain in engagement with cam side face 126.
  • An arm 129 extends upward through casing wall 122 from the free end of lever 121 and terminates adjacent the periphery of upper wheel ring 26 in an index wheel 131.
  • Wheel 131 is adapted to engage within notches 132 in the periphery of the ring 26 to lock the wheel in position. More particularly, the side cam face 126 of cam 127 includes a depressed portion 132 within which the roller 124 rides soon after the cam 101 begins rotating. This causes the index lever to be translationally moved in the direction making the index wheel 131 engage the appropriate notch in wheel ring 26 to lock and hold the embossing wheel at the appropriate location for the formation of the desired character at the embossing station.
  • the side cam face 126 causes movement of the lever 121 to the right as viewed in FIG. 8 to again remove the index wheel 131 from the notch so that the embossing wheel can again be rotated by the drive shaft 59.
  • the apparatus of the invention therefore includes means for automatically advancing the tape through the embossing station immediately after a letter is embossed on the tape. Moreover, it includes means for sensing which character is to be embossed and cocking" the tape advance mechanism to control the distance through which it moves the tape to relate such distanct to the dimension in the direction of tape travel of the character to be embossed.
  • the characters of any character group on the tape are individually spaced to give the grouping a type set" appearance. More particularly, as is best illustrated in FIG.
  • tape advance wheel 32 is connectable via a slip spring clutch arrangement 136 to a bell crank 137 mounted for rotation on shaft 43.
  • a sensing slide 138 is mounted for reciprocation in a direction axially of main drive shaft 51 by studs 139 (FIG. 8) which depend downward from the underneath surface of casing upper wall 122. Translational movement of slide 138 is transmitted to the bell crank 137 via a link 141 connected between the same.
  • Sensing slide 138 is urged to the left as viewed in FIG. 8 by a tension spring 142 connected between a depending tab thereon and the support plate 53.
  • the end of the slide furthermost from the tape advance wheel 32 has a cam follower roller 143 which is in engagement with a cam face 144 on the side of cam 101 opposite that on which cam face 126 for cam roller 124 is provided. It will be appreciated that tension spring 142 tends to maintain roller 143 in engagement with cam surface 144.
  • the sensing slide 138 has a sensing nose 146 projecting upward therefrom through a slot 147 in casing upper wall 122.
  • the upper end of nose 146 is adapted to engage a stop ring 148 on the underneath side of embossing wheel 23.
  • the outer periphery of stop ring 148 is stepped so that portions thereof extend at varying radial distances from the shaft 59. It will be appreciated that the distance through which the sensing slide 138 can be moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 8 by the tension of spring 142 will be limited by engagement of the nose 146 with the stop ring 148.
  • the direction of winding of the spring is such that when the bell crank is rotated clockwise by the sensing slide as aforesaid, the diameter of the spring coils is enlarged somewhat so that the spring does not transmit the movement of the bell crank to the tape advance wheel.
  • movement of the bell crank in the opposite direction will result in a tightening of the coils of the spring so that it will frictionally engage both the bell crank collar and the drive wheel collar to transmit the motion of the bell crank to the tape advance wheel.
  • a similar spring slip clutch arrangement 152 couples the opposite side of the tape advance wheel 32 to a bearing block 153 but with the spring winding reversed so that the arrangmeent will act to assure that the tape advance wheel is not rotated by the bell crank when the sensing slide moves in the clockwise direction by allows it to be rotated by movement of the bell crank counter clockwise.
  • the sensing slide is thus cocked, so that it can rotate the tape advance wheel and hence advance the tape a predetermined distance dependent upon the particular character being embossed on the tape. However, the actual advancement of the tape is not made to occur until after the embossing operation.
  • the cam assembly 101 includes a separate cam 161 secured to the cam 127 via studs 162 and whose purpose is to motivate the embossing linkage generally referred to by the reference numeral 163 (FIG. 14).
  • the embossing linkage 163 includes an angle crank cam follower 164 made up of a pair of parallel angle crank pieces.
  • the angle crank is pivotally mounted at the junction of its legs on a support shaft 166, and one leg 167 thereof has a cam follower roller 168 at its end for engagement with the periphery of cam 161.
  • the other leg of the angle crank 164 is connected by a tension spring 169 to the underneath surface of casing upper wall 122. The spring 169 thus tends to maintain the follower roller 168 in engagement with cam 161.
  • An embossing link 171 consisting of two parallel link pieces pivotally connects the cam follower end of angle crank 164 with one end of an embossing lever 172 similarly made up of two parallel lever pieces. As is illustrated, the opposite end of lever 172 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 173, and an embossing plunger assembly 174 is pivotally connected to the lever 172 between its two lever pieces at a location approximately midway between shaft 173 and link 171.
  • embossing cam 161 The camming surface of embossing cam 161 is shaped to drive the embossing plunger 174 upward from a retracted position via linkage 163 after the index lever 131 locks the embossing wheel into position and the tape advancing mechanism is cocked.
  • plunger 174 upon being driven upward, plunger 174 passes through an appropriate aperture in casing wall 122 and engages the leaf 35 of the embossing wheel positioned at the embossing station to drive the same upward and mate the male die thereon with the corresponding female die on the upper ring 26. This will cause embossing of the character defined by the die on the tape between the die forms.
  • a bridge piece 176 is located at the embossing station directly above the embossing ring 26 to backup the ring 26 and aid its resistance to upward flexing caused by the pressure of embossing plunger 174.
  • the embossing plunger assembly 174 can be spring loaded to enable the plunger to resiliently give somewhat upon encountering a particularly thick portion of embossing tape or thick portion of the embossing wheel.
  • the cam surface 114 on the cam 127 engages the cam follower 143 on the sensing slide and translates such slide to the right as viewed in FIGS. 8 and 9. This will cause rotation of the tape advance wheel 32 via bell crank 137 and shaft 43 and consequently advancement of the tape a predetermined distance dependent upon the character embossed as discussed above.
  • Continual rotation of the cam assembly 101 causes it to activate release means for translationally moving the key lock plate 76 to allow the depressed key which initiated the embossing cycle to return to its nondepressed condition. More particularly, a pin 181 projecting from the side of cam 127 engages an activating arm 182 on a release lever 183.
  • Lever 183 is mounted for pivotal movement about axis 184 and its lever arm extends through casing upper wall 122 and terminates in the previously mentioned lever end 87 (FIG. 5) which isengageable with the depending tab 86 on the lock plate.
  • Engagement of the lever arm 182 by the pin 181 results in counter clockwise rotation of the index lever as viewed in FIG. 17 and consequent engagement of lever end 87 with tab 86 to translationally displace the lock plate 76 to disengage the same from the lock shoulder 84 of the depressed key and allow the key to return to its nondepressed position under the force of its compression spring 74.
  • the apparatus of the invention also includes means for automatically advancing the tape a predetermined distance upon depression of the space bar 41.
  • the space bar 41 projects upwardly through the casing upper wall 122 from a box lever, generally referred to by the reference numeral 186.
  • Lever 186 is pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft 187 secured to the underneath surface of easing upper wall 122 and has the drive shaft 43 for tape advance wheel 32 passing between the legs 188 and 189 thereof.
  • feed arm 192 Upon depression of space bar 41, and consequent pivoting of the box lever 181 on shaft 187, an ear 191 extending inwardly from lever leg 188 engages a feed arm 192 which is journaled for rotation on tape feed shaft 43.
  • feed arm 192 includes a collar portion 193 which is part of a spring slip clutch arrangement for rotating a drive collar 194 pinned to feed drive shaft 43.
  • the spring 196 of the slip clutch arrangement transmits the rotary motion of the feed arm 192 to the drive collar 194, and hence to the rod 43, to rotate the tape advance wheel 32 and thus advance tape whenever the ear 191 engages and pivots the feed arm 192.
  • a tension spring 197 is connected between the end of feed arm 192 opposite to that engaged by the ear 191 and a lower cross plate 198 on the box lever to normally maintain the feed arm in its unactivated position and return both it and the box lever to such position upon release of pressure on space bar 41.
  • the apparatus of the invention also includes means for severing a length of tape on which characters have been embossed from the remainder of the tape.
  • a cutoff box lever assembly 201 on which cutoff bar 39 is mounted cooperates with a cutoff cam assembly, generally referred to by the reference numeral 202 to effect engagement of such cam assembly to the main drive shaft 51 for driving the various mechanisms which conduct the operations concerned with the tape cutoff.
  • the box lever 201 is mounted for pivotal motion on a shaft 200.
  • a stop lever 203 on box lever 201 is pivoted upward out of engagement with a lug 204 on a drive sleeve 206 of a spring slip clutch for the cam assembly 202.
  • release of the drive sleeve allows the clutch spring 207 to frictionally engage the outer surface of a drive hub 208 pinnedto the main shaft 51 and transmit the rotation thereof to the cam 209 of assembly 201 in a manner similar to that in which the slip clutch arrangement for the embossing cam assembly operates.
  • depression of the cutoff bar 39 integrates the cutoff cam assembly to rotate with main drive shaft 51.
  • Means are provided for advancing the tape through the embossing station sufficiently to advance the last embossed character beyond the cutoff station prior to the actual severing of the tape. Since normally the last character embossed is located just one character space beyond the embossing station, this additional advance of the tape prior to the cutoff operation is necessary to assure that the cutoff portion of the tape includes the full embossed message.
  • a cam follower roller 211 on the free end of an advance lever 212 is in engagement with a cam surface 213 on the outside face of cam 209.
  • Advance lever 212 is pivotally mounted between its ends on a stud 214 (FIG. 8) depending from the underneath surface of casing upper wall 122.
  • lever 212 The end of lever 212 opposite that having the cam follower 211, is pivotally secured to the drive end of a push rod 216 which extends to a position adjacent the tape advance feed shaft 43.
  • push rod 216 is secured in driving relation to a bell crank 217 which is journaled for rotation on feed shaft 43.
  • Bell crank 217 is coupled via a one way spring slip clutch 218 to shaft 43 for driving the same and the tape advance wheel 32 in a direction which will advance the tape.
  • a clutch spring 219 is wound about both a bearing collar 211 on bell crank 217 and a drive hub 223 pinned to feed shaft 43.
  • the direction of the coil winding of spring 218 is such that upon push rod 216 being translationally displaced toward the drive shaft 43, the spring is tightened about the bell crank collar to transmit the rotation of it to the drive hub 223 and hence to the tape advance wheel 32..However, the spring slips on the surface of the bell crank collar 218 whenever the push rod 216 is moved away from the drive shaft 43.
  • a tension spring 224 is secured between an car 226 on push rod 216 and support plate 53 to urge the push rod in the direction away from shaft 43. The spring 224 thus acts to maintain cam follower roller 21 1 on lever 212 in engagement with cam surface 213, as well as return the push rod to the unactivated position after the cutoff bar has been depressed to begin the cutoff operation.
  • the tape cut-off station includes above the location through which the tape passes a knife blade 231 extending transversely of the tape.
  • An anvil arrangement is designed to cooperate with the blade to effect the desired tape cut-off.
  • a cut-ofi plunger 232 having an anvil 233 at its upper end extends through an aperture in casing guide wall 122 at the cutoff station and is vertically reciprocal therein.
  • a cam follower roller 234 mounted for rotation by a pin 236 on a lower end of the plunger is in engagement with a peripheral cam surface 237 on cutoff cam 202.
  • the surface 237 is designed to rise and cause vertical upward movement of the plunger assembly after the tape advancement discussed above.
  • the plunger assembly is caused to move sufficiently far upward at the cutoff station that the anvil thereof cooperates with the knife blade arrangement to cut through any embossing tape therebetween.
  • the severed piece of tape can then be removed from the apparatus through the aperture 238 in cover 29.
  • the lug 239 is at a location at which it will be clear of the box lever arm 203 upon the initial angular rotation of the drive sleeve upon depression of the cut-off bar so that it does not hinder the proper operation of the cutoff arrangement.
  • the apparatus of the invention automatically provides all of the major operations involved in embossing characters on a base substance in response to the simple depression of a pushbutton or the like. Because of this, the apparatus is much easier and quicker to use than prior apparatuses of this nature, and makes feasible the use of tape and base substance embossing apparatuses in many commercial fields from which they have been precluded in the past.
  • Apparatus for embossing characters on a base substance comprising a support structure, an embossing station, means for passing a base substance through said embossing station to leave characters embossed thereon, a generally circular array of embossing dies corresponding to the individual characters to be produced, said dies being annularly arranged and mounted for rotation together about the axis of said annulus to pass said dies successively past said embossing station,
  • said annular array of dies is provided on a rotatable embossing wheel and wherein said means responsive to the depression of any one of said keys for positioning the cor responding one of said dies at said embossing station further includes an indexing means engageable with the periphery of said wheel for maintaining said array of embossing dies in a stopped condition with said corresponding die positioned at said embossing station during the operation of said means for embossing the character of said die on said base substance.
  • the apparatusof claim 1 further including lock means for maintaining any depressed key in its depressed condition with its stem interrupting rotation of said annular array until completion of operation of said means for embossing the character of said die at said station on said base substance
  • said lock means including a spring loaded lock plate through which the stems of said keys extend, each key stern having a camming surface for translationally displacing said lock plate against spring pressure upon the depression of said key and a locking shoulder engageable with said plate after said displacement to provide said maintenance of said key in said depressed condition.
  • the apparatus of claim 3 further including a release means responsive to the completion of the operation of said means for embossing the character of the die at said embossing station on said base substance for translationally displacing said lock plate to disengage the same from said lock shoulder of the depressed key to allow said key to return to its non-depressed position.

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  • Labeling Devices (AREA)
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  • Sewing Machines And Sewing (AREA)
US00141643A 1971-05-10 1971-05-10 Automatic push button tape embossing machine Expired - Lifetime US3753482A (en)

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US14164371A 1971-05-10 1971-05-10

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US (1) US3753482A (xx)
JP (1) JPS525251B1 (xx)
CA (1) CA947218A (xx)
DE (1) DE2220116C2 (xx)
FR (1) FR2139362A5 (xx)
GB (1) GB1387914A (xx)
SE (1) SE392688B (xx)
ZA (1) ZA723046B (xx)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3834507A (en) * 1973-01-30 1974-09-10 Kroy Ind Inc Printing apparatus
US3901143A (en) * 1974-04-17 1975-08-26 Donald R Alexander Embossing press
US3912064A (en) * 1973-01-30 1975-10-14 Kroy Ind Inc Printing apparatus with font alignment means
US4378733A (en) * 1980-10-20 1983-04-05 Data Card Corporation Embossing drive mechanism for an automatic embossing system
US4697940A (en) * 1983-11-04 1987-10-06 Kroy Inc. Lettering apparatus
US20100287676A1 (en) * 2008-02-04 2010-11-18 Won Su Seo Welding mask

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AT392757B (de) * 1989-05-30 1991-06-10 Engel Kurt Praegeeinrichtung

Citations (5)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US475805A (en) * 1892-05-31 Matrix-making machine
US712124A (en) * 1900-01-08 1902-10-28 Elliott Co Apparatus for cutting stencils.
US2584897A (en) * 1947-02-10 1952-02-05 Toledo Scale Co Electric computing mechanism
US3263789A (en) * 1962-09-17 1966-08-02 Roy A Schacht Marking machine with character wheels rotatable about a stationary member
US3391773A (en) * 1966-11-14 1968-07-09 Dymo Industries Inc Proportional spacing embossing tool

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2979179A (en) * 1959-11-30 1961-04-11 Dymo Industries Inc Tape embossing and label making machine
US3181679A (en) * 1963-09-26 1965-05-04 Kohner Bros Inc Embossing tool
FR1445559A (fr) * 1965-05-12 1966-07-15 Machine à écrire électrique

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US475805A (en) * 1892-05-31 Matrix-making machine
US712124A (en) * 1900-01-08 1902-10-28 Elliott Co Apparatus for cutting stencils.
US2584897A (en) * 1947-02-10 1952-02-05 Toledo Scale Co Electric computing mechanism
US3263789A (en) * 1962-09-17 1966-08-02 Roy A Schacht Marking machine with character wheels rotatable about a stationary member
US3391773A (en) * 1966-11-14 1968-07-09 Dymo Industries Inc Proportional spacing embossing tool

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3834507A (en) * 1973-01-30 1974-09-10 Kroy Ind Inc Printing apparatus
US3912064A (en) * 1973-01-30 1975-10-14 Kroy Ind Inc Printing apparatus with font alignment means
US3901143A (en) * 1974-04-17 1975-08-26 Donald R Alexander Embossing press
US4378733A (en) * 1980-10-20 1983-04-05 Data Card Corporation Embossing drive mechanism for an automatic embossing system
US4697940A (en) * 1983-11-04 1987-10-06 Kroy Inc. Lettering apparatus
US20100287676A1 (en) * 2008-02-04 2010-11-18 Won Su Seo Welding mask
US8381312B2 (en) * 2008-02-04 2013-02-26 Won Su Seo Welding mask

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ZA723046B (en) 1973-02-28
DE2220116A1 (de) 1972-11-23
FR2139362A5 (xx) 1973-01-05
JPS525251B1 (xx) 1977-02-10
SE392688B (sv) 1977-04-18
DE2220116C2 (de) 1983-08-11
GB1387914A (en) 1975-03-19
CA947218A (en) 1974-05-14

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