US3756146A

US3756146A - Imprinter

Info

Publication number: US3756146A
Application number: US00135593A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Norwood
Original assignee: Norwood Marking and Equipment Co Inc
Current assignee: WESTGREN HOLDING CORP C/O MANDELL & ZAROFF
Priority date: 1971-04-20
Filing date: 1971-04-20
Publication date: 1973-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-04

Abstract

An imprinter stamping machine having a vertical stamping movement and a horizontal inking movement, the stamp being positioned at the end of a pivotable linkage member connected to a horizontal moving drive member through a cam linkage, the cam comprising a horizontally pivoted linkage member having a roller slidably received in a groove in a horizontally moving member attached to the horizontally moving ram. The imprinter has a manual screw and axially movable follower for selective abutment against the horizontally movable member to cycle the device.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Norwood 1 Sept. 4, 1973 1 1 IMPRINTER [75] lnventor: Eugene R. Norwood, Downers Grove, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Norwood Marking and Equipment Co., Inc., La Grange, 111.

22 Filed: Apr. 20, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 135,593

v [52] U.S. Cl 101/44, 101/103, 101/333 [51] Int. Cl. B411 17/00 [58] Field of Search 101/103, 104, 105,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,599,566 8/1971 Fish 101/333 3,026,793 3/1962 Clark 101/44 3,216,352 11/1965 Schnackel..... 101/333 2,252,649 8/1941 Sma1lman..... 101/333 1,245,624 11/1917 Scotford 101/103 2,312,727 3/1943 Nisenson 101/104 X 3,169,413 2/1965 Freeman 74/625 3,198,034 8/1965 DeWitte et a1. 74/625 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-R. T. Rader Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson [57] ABSTRACT An imprinter stamping machine having a vertical stamping movement and a horizontal inking movement, the stamp being positioned at the end of a piv0table linkage member connected to a horizontal moving drive member through a cam linkage, the cam comprising a horizontally pivoted linkage member having a roller slidably received in a groove in a horizontally moving member attached to the horizontally moving ram. The imprinter has a manual screw and axially movable follower for selective abutment against the horizontally movable member to cycle the device.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to marking machinery, and more particularly to a cyclic imprint marker.

2. Prior Art Marking machines utilizing rubber or die cut stamps for imprint marking of items on a conveyor line are known to the art. Many such markers are vertical action type, where the type bar or carrier is cyclically moved vertically into imprinting contact with the item on the conveyor belt. The marking is normally done with an ink or dye which is applied to the type face by abutment between it and an ink carrying member such as an ink pad.

Many types of such machines have been designed, all of them having in common the features of a moving type carrying member for abutment with the product to be marked and an ink source and means of coating the type bar. Some devices use a rotating type carrier which rotates into contact with an ink roller or the like. Others use a vertically moving type carrier which oscillates vertically in connection with an ink ribbon or roller which moves horizontally to coat the type bar when the type bar is in its non-stamping position of vertical movement.

Another type has been suggested which utilizes a pivotable connection whereby the type bar can be moved both vertically and horizontally. In this manner, the type bar can be moved into imprinting position in its vertical movement and be abutted against an ink pad in its horizontal movement. Such horizontal and vertically movable markers have heretofore required complex linkages utilizing drag links and the like members. Additionally, they have been difficult to adjust and inconvenient for purposes of type changing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a vertically and horizontally movable type marker. The type bar is mounted at the end of a pivotable arm which has a double pivot whereby it is pivotable around a fixed pivot and pivotable around a moving point so that the type bar at the end of the arm can be moved both horizontally and vertically. A horizontally movable ram drives the movable pivot through a sliding contact point. Means are provided to adjust the position of the ink pad and further means are provided to manually cycle the marker to raise it to its vertical point and hold it there for type changing. The contact between the moving pivot member and the horizontally moving ram includes a roller attached to the moving pivot which is free to move in a groove in a horizontally moving member thereby providing a cam driven marker.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved imprint marker.

It is a further object to provide an improved imprint marker where the type bar has both vertical and horizontal movements striking the product to be marked at the end of one movement and striking an ink pad at the end of the other movement.

It is yet another and more specific object of this invention to provide an improved imprint marker wherein the type bar is moved by a cam and follower arrangement in both vertical and horizontal planes by a hydraulic ram or other means, the marker including a manually actuatable mechanism for moving the type marker.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the marker of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the marker with the outer housing removed;

FIG. 3 is an end plan view of the marker of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a side plan view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating the opposite side;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines V-V of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a partially fragmentary view of the ink pad adjusting member of this invention; and

FIG. 7 is an end plan view of the ink pad, taken along the lines VII-VII of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 illustrates the marker 10 of this invention. The marker includes a primary housing member 11 having an end face 12 with attachments and controls mounted thereon. The side faces 13, 14 and the top face 15 are provided by a U-shaped cross section cap which is attached by means such as screws 16 and which is removable from the housing 11. The marker includes mounting flanges l7 and 18 for attachment of the marker to production machinery. In the following description, it will be assumed that the marker is attached under a product carrying line in a horizontal position so that the type bar carrying member moves in a vertical position to imprint on the underside of the product carried by the conveyor machinery. It is to be understood, however, that this is for purposes of description and that the marker can be mounted in a vertical position if so desired or at any desired angle thereto. It will therefore be understood that when the movement of the type bar is described as being vertical or horizontal, it is so described in relation to a horizontally mounted housing and that if the housing be mounted with its end face 12 at the top or the bottom thereof, thereby providing a vertically mounted housing, the motion of the type bar carrying member will be the opposite of that described and that when the marker is mounted at an angle to the vertical, the motion of the type bar will not be horizontal or vertical except with respect to the housing.

The marker includes a member 20 which terminates in an inturned flanged groove 21 which receives the T- slot 22 on the underside of a type carrying bar 23. The type bar 23 is insertable and removable from the type carrying member 20 and is maintained therein by a friction spring member.

The top of the housing 11 has an opening 29 therein through which the type carrying member 20 may project, thereby projecting the type bar 23 above the housing for abutment imprinting of a product moving across the top of the housing. The type carrying member 20 is cyclically moved so that it intermittently projects above the marker to come into contact with the product. The movement of the end of the type carrying member 20 as hereinafter described is both horizontal and vertical and pivotable so that the type bar moves vertically up into contact with the product to be marked and moves horizontally as a part of its cycle into contact with an ink pad so that the type is inked.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the housing 11 includes the front wall 12, a rear wall 30, a top 31 and a bottom 32 and a substantially hollow interior with walls as hereinafter described. The opening 29 extends through the top wall.

A hydraulic cylinder 33 is mounted through the front wall 12. The cylinder contains an axially movable ram 34 which is forced out of the end 35 of the cylinder into the interior of the housing axially of the cylinder. The cylinder is mounted in an opening 37 through the front wall 12 and on a mounting block 38 interior of the housing and may be retained in place as by means of a nut 39 extending through the bottom wall of the housing. The free end 40 of the ram 34 is attached as by means of a nut 41 to a horizontally moving member 42. The horizontally moving member has a free rotating roller wheel 44 attached to the bottom thereof as by means of a nut 45. The roller wheel 44 is received in the central slot 46 of a horizontally disposed slotted guide member 47 which is attached to the housing interiorly thereof. The guide member 47 may be attached by the same nut 39 which attaches the mounting block 38 of the air cylinder. When the hydraulic cylinder is actuated, the axially moving ram 34 will carry with it the horizontally moving member 42 which is guided by contact between the roller 44 and the side walls of the central slot 46 of the guide member 47.

The horizontally moving member 42 has an upper portion 48 which may partially overlie the end of the hydraulic cylinder 33. The upper portion 48 is retained for movement in a given plane by the guiding action of the roller 44 in the groove 46.

As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the inside face 49 of the upper portion 48 has a vertical groove 50 therein.

A horizontally pivoted member 51 is provided. The member 51 is substantially U-shaped, having two

legs

52 and 53 with a bight section 54. The bight section 54 is pivotably attached to the housing in the opening 29 adjacent the front end 55 thereof. The pivotable attachment is across the width of the opening 29 transverse of the housing. The two

leg sections

52 and 53 depend therefrom. The opening 29 is positioned offcenter of the housing whereby one of the legs 52 is positioned interiorly of the horizontally moving member 42. That leg 52 has a projection 56 thereon intermediate the ends of the leg. The projection 56 has a roller wheel 57 rotatably attached to the projection 56. The roller wheel rides in the groove 50. In this manner, when the ram 34 of the hyraulic cylinder moves the horizontally movable block 42, that motion will be imparted to the horizontally pivoted member 51 through the rotatable wheel 57. This will cause the member 51 to pivot in a first are about its hinged connection 60 to the housing 11. During the pivoting of the member 51, the roller wheel 57 will move up and down in the groove 50. This movement is in the manner of a cam and follower and is herein so described. It will therefore be understood that when reference is made to a cam and follower connection between a horizontally moving member and a horizontally pivoted member, that this refers to the connection between the member 51 and the member 42 through the roller wheel 57 received in the groove 50. It is the provision of the roller wheel and groove arrangement which eliminates heretofore-used drag linkages and the like. Preferably, the roller wheel has a dimension just slightly less than the width of the groove so as to minimize free play in the movement of the horizontally pivoted member 51.

The type-carrying member 20 is connected to the member 51 by a pivotable connection 62 adjacent the ends of the legs 52-53. Therefore, the type-carrying member 20 moves with the pivotable member 51. An extension 63 of the type-carrying member 20 projects beyond the pivot point 62 and has a central slot 64. A roller wheel 65 is received in the slot 64 and is attached to an internal wall 67 of the housing to form a lost motion connection between the housing and member 20. In this manner as the type holding member 20 is carried by the member 51, it is caused to pivot in a second are about the pivotable connection 62 and the roller wheel 65. When the ram 34 is fully withdrawn into the cylinder, the legs 52-53 of the member 51 will be vertically disposed and the type-carrying member will be horizontally disposed within the housing. As the ram 34 extends outwardly of the cylinder, the pivot point 62 between the type-carrying member 20 and the member 51 will follow the broken line 70 of the first arc illustrated in FIG. 4. Because of the sliding pivot point connection between the roller wheel 65 and the slot 64, the type bar carrying member 20 will pivot to change the disposition of the member 20 from a horizontal to a vertical disposition as illustrated at 71 in FIG. 5. The broken lines 72 in FIG. 5 illustrate the midpoint where the type bar is aligned with the legs 52-53. Due to the arcuate nature of the movement of the member 51, the type bar will have a movement approaching horizontal when in the position illustrated in FIG. 4 and approaching vertical when in the position illustrated at 71. Thus, the type bar can be said to have both a horizontal and a vertical movement even though the movement is not pure horizontal and pure vertical. Because the roller wheel 65 is positioned directly below the furthest reach of the pivot point 62 when the ram is fully extended and in the same horizontal plane as the furthest reach of the pivot point 62 when the ram is fully withdrawn, the face of the type bar will be lying in a plane normal to either the vertical or the horizontal at the respective end movements of the ram. Thus, at the end of the travel of the ram, the type bar will project out of the opening 29 in the top of the housing and be positioned to strike a product with a movement approaching vertical. At the other extreme with the ram fully withdrawn, the type bar will be projecting in a plane normal to the vertical plane interiorly of the housing and be in position to strike the pad of an ink container positioned in the housing.

The ink container 80 is a cylindrical member which is positioned in the housing through an opening in the end face 12 thereof. One end of the ink container terminates in a circular plate 81 having a rectangular slot 82 therein. The slot opens to a fabric pad. The slot 82 is dimensioned just slightly greater than the type bar 23 so that when the type bar is in its position as illustrated in FIG. 4, it will substantially cover the face of the pad to reduce evaporation of the ink. The striking of the type face against the pad will coat the tape with ink.

A mechanism is provided to adjust the level of extension of the cylinder 80 into the housing to control the depth of penetration of the type face into the pad, thereby controlling the amount of ink applied to the type face so as to allow adjustments for lightness and darkness in the imprint. To accomplish this, a pin 85 projects from the outer diameter of the cylinder. The pin 85 is received in a groove 86 in the housing extending into the housing from the front wall. Therefore, alignment of the pin with the groove will assure the alignment of the slot 82 to prevent it from becoming angled with respect to the type face.

The cylinder 80 is freely movable in the opening 87 in the front wall 12. An adjustment member 90 illustrated in FIG. 6 has a cylindrical member 91 with a J- groove 92 in the outer diameter thereof. The Jgroove receives the pin 85 of the cylinder. A threaded knurlended bolt 93 extends through the cylinder 91 and is received in a threaded opening in the housing 11. Therefore, threading and unthreading of the bolt 93 will cause the cylinder 91 to move inwardly and outwardly of the housing 11. The opening 94 in the housing which receives the member 90 is adjacent the opening 87 which receives the ink cylinder with the slot 86 communicating the two openings. The pin 85 extends through the slot 86 and into the J-slot 92 where it is retained in the short leg by a spring means 95. Thus, as the cylinder 91 is moved inwardly and outwardly of the housing by threading and unthreading of the bolt 93, the cylinder 80 is moved therewith. A spring 96 is entrapped interiorly of the cylinder 91 between an inturned end and a radial abutment on the bolt. Thus, the cylinder 91 is continually urged by the spring away from the knurled end of the bolt to a point where it abuts with a snap ring 97 around the threaded portion of the bolt. In this manner, the cylinder 91 has shockabsorbing capacities in that when the type face strikes the pad of the ink cylinder, the ink cylinder is able to move axially to the limited extent allowed by the movability of the cylinder 91 between the abutment point against the snap ring 97 and an abutment point against the knurled end of the bolt 93. The spring 96 also serves the function of continually urging the ink cylinder towards the interior of the housing.

In order to return the type bar to the ink pad, the hydraulic cylinder 33 has a spring means 100 positioned therein. The spring is entrapped between the end 101 of the cylinder through which the ram 34 projects and a piston 102 end on the ram. As pressure is supplied to the cylinder through the exterior opening 103 thereof, the piston is forced towards the other end of the cylinder, thereby compressing the spring and moving the ram 34 out of the cylinder. When the pressure is released, the spring 100 urges the piston 102 back towards the end 104 exterior of the housing. The urging of the spring 100 moving the piston 102 moves the horizontally moving member 42 back towards the face 12 of the housing, thereby carrying the horizontally pivoted member 51 and type-carrying member 20 back to the position illustrated in FIG. 4, where the type face will strike the pad of the ink cylinder.

In order to manually cycle the marker in the absence of continued pressure for the purposes of maintenance, repair or changing of the type face from the top, a manual cycling actuator is provided. The actuator 110 includes a housing 11 positioned interiorly of the marker housing 11 above the cylinder 33. The housing 111 has a pair of axially extending circular bores therein which are positioned one atop the other and which overlap to provide a communication therebetween. In one of the bores, an idler screw 112 is provided which has an extension 113 projecting through the front wall 12 of the housing 1.1 and terminating in a control knob 114. The idler screw has a helix tooth thereon. A follower or actuator screw 115 is received in the other bore. The actuator screw is freely received in the bore, and has a helix tooth meshed with the tooth of the idler screw 112. Therefore, rotating the idler screw 112 will cause the follower screw to be moved axially of the housing 111. The end 117 of the follower screw which is projectable beyond the inner end of the housing 111 lies in a plane which intersects with a face 118 of the horizontally movable member 42. Therefore, rotation of the idler screw 112 will cause the follower screw to move outwardly of the housing 111 into abutting relation with the horizontally movable member 42 to force it to move away from the end 12 of the housing 11, thus cycling the marker. When the manual actuator is not in use, the idler screw is rotated to withdraw the follower screw entirely within the housing 1 1 1 of the actuator where it will not interfere with the operation of the marker. However, use of the actuator when desired can result in the maintaining of the typecarrying member in its full vertical position as illustrated at 71, when desired.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, in order to reduce the length of the spring 100 in the air cylinder and thereby reduce the tendency of the spring to bow when compressed, a pair of springs 100a and 100b are provided around the ram 34. Each of the springs bottoms against a floating abutment 120 received around the ram intermediate the springs.

It will therefore be appreciated that my abovedescribed invention provides a device for intermittent imprint marking which has a type carrying member which moves in one plane for marking and in a second plane normal to the forced plane for inking the type. The movement of the type carrying member is actuated by movement of a hydraulic ram which is attached to a first member which in turn is attached to a second pivotable member through a cam and follower, the pivotable member carrying the type carrying member. Additionally, a means is described for manual actuation of the marker, the means including mating tooth screws, one of which is restrained against axial movement and the other of which is free to move axially to force movement of the said first member.

Although I have herein set forth my invention with respect to certain specific principles and details thereof, it will be understood that these may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the hereunto appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An intermittent imprint marker comprising: a housing, an air cylinder attached to said housing having a ram disposed for movement in said housing, said ram attached to a first member whereby said first member is moved with said ram in a first direction, a pivotable member attached to said housing, said pivotable member pivotable through an arc, the arc lying in a plane parallel to the movement of the ram, said pivotable member having a projection extending therefrom, said first member having a groove in a surface thereof, said projection extending into said groove, and said projection in said groove providing a cam and follower connection between the said first member and the said pivotable member, whereby movement of the said first member by the said ram imparts movement to the said pivotable member through the said cam and follower connection, and a type bar carrying member being mounted for pivotal movement on said pivotable member and being attached to the housing by a pivotal, lost motion connection so that as the pivotable member is pivoted by the ram, the type bar carrying members pivots relatively to both the housing and pivotable membets.

2. The marker of claim 1 wherein said projection includes a roller wheel riding in said groove.

3. An intermittent imprint marker according to claim 1, which includes manual means mounted in the housing for moving the pivotable member independent of actuation of the ram.

4. A marker according to claim 3, wherein said manual means includes a manually actuated rod having a helix tooth thereon, said tooth indexing with a second rod having a cooperating helix tooth thereon, said second rod free to move axially in dependent response to rotation of said first rod, and said first rod being restrained against axial movement, said second rod being positioned in the housing to abut said first member to move the pivotable member.

5. An imprint marker comprising a housing having a top wall and a side wall, a ram attached to the housing having a movable arm, movable only longitudinally of the housing towards and away from the side wall, a type carrying member having a type bar on one end thereof, a linkage for transmitting motion from the ram arm to the type carrying member, the linkage including a pivoted member pivotably attached to the housing for movement through a first arc, the arc lying in a plane parallel to the movement of the arm, the type carrying member pivotably attached to, and carried by the pivoted member, the type carrying member having an extension thereon projecting away from the connection of the type carrying member to the pivoted member, a fixed pivot on said housing, a slidable and pivotable connection between the fixed pivot and the extension, a cam carried by said arm, and a cam follower carried by said pivoted member riding against the surface of the cam whereby when the said arm moves longitudinally of the housing, the cam moves longitudinally of the housing, and motion of the cam is transmitted to the pivoted member through the cam follower causing the pivoted member to move through the are carrying the type carrying member therewith, the type carrying member being pivoted through a second are by means of the slidable and pivotable connection to the fixed pivot.

6. The marker of claim 5 wherein the said cam and follower connection includes a roller wheel riding in a groove.

7. The marker of claim 6 wherein an ink supply is disposed within said housing through a wall of said housing, the said ink supply having an ink pad face positioned within the said housing to be struck by the type portions of the said type bar when the said type carrier is at a horizontal position within the housing.

8. The marker of claim 7 wherein means are provided to adjustably position the ink pad within the said housing.

9. The marker of claim 8 wherein the means for adjusting includes a shock absorber means to absorb the shock to the ink container when the pad is struck by the type bar.

10. The marker of claim 6 wherein manual means are provided to index the pivotable member through an approximately pivot cycle manually in the absence of pressure acting on the ram.

Claims

1. An intermittent imprint marker comprising: a housing, an air cylinder attached to said housing having a ram disposed for movement in said housing, said ram attached to a first member whereby said first member is moved with said ram in a first direction, a pivotable member attached to said housing, said pivotable member pivotable through an arc, the arc lying in a plane parallel to the movement of the ram, said pivotable member having a projection extending therefrom, said first member having a groove in a surface thereof, said projection extending into said groove, and said projection in said groove providing a cam and follower connection between the said first member and the said pivotable member, whereby movement of the said first member by the said ram imparts movement to the said pivotable member through the said cam and follower connection, and a type bar carrying member being mounted for pivotal movement on said pivotable member and being attached to the housing by a pivotal, lost motion connection so that as the pivotable member is pivoted by the ram, the type bar carrying members pivots relatively to both the housing and pivotable members.

5. An imprint marker comprising a housing having a top wall and a side wall, a ram attached to the housing having a movable arm, movable only longitudinally of the housing towards and away from the side wall, a type carrying member having a type bar on one end thereof, a linkage for transmitting motion from the ram arm to the type carrying member, the linkage including a pivoted member pivotably attached to the housing for movement through a first arc, the arc lying in a plane parallel to the movement of the arm, the type carrying member pivotably attached to, and carried by the pivoted member, the type carrying member having an extension thereon projecting away from the connection of the type carrying member to the pivoted member, a fixed pivot on said housing, a slidable and pivotable connection between the fixed pivot and the extension, a cam caRried by said arm, and a cam follower carried by said pivoted member riding against the surface of the cam whereby when the said arm moves longitudinally of the housing, the cam moves longitudinally of the housing, and motion of the cam is transmitted to the pivoted member through the cam follower causing the pivoted member to move through the arc carrying the type carrying member therewith, the type carrying member being pivoted through a second arc by means of the slidable and pivotable connection to the fixed pivot.

10. The marker of claim 6 wherein manual means are provided to index the pivotable member through an approximately 90* pivot cycle manually in the absence of pressure acting on the ram.