US3842957A

US3842957A - Electrically heatable selective marking apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3842957A
Application number: US00352576A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Wilkin; C Wintergreen; J Stade
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-02-27
Filing date: 1973-04-19
Publication date: 1974-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-22

Abstract

An electrically heatable selective marking wheel is reciprocated to mark characters one at a time on an article. The temperature of the marking wheel is adjustable. Structure is also provided for controlling the marking time and pressure. An escapement mechanism assures controlled advancement of the article being marked.

Description

1 ELECTRICALLY HEATABLE SELECTIVE Kiely..........

MARKING APPARATUS 6/1930 Luedtke et a1 101/21 10/1933 101/43 101/316 ux [75] Inventors: William G. Wilkin, Oak Park;

Charles J. Wintergreen, Chicago;

McDonough 2 115,692 4/1938 Thorn 2,179,233 11/1939 Roberts, .112. 3,362,326 1/1968 Delpo et a1. 3,530,792

James H. Stade, Elk Grove, all of I11.

[73] Assignees: Norman M. Shapiro, Chicago;

9/1970 Va1iela......... William G. Wilkin, Oak Park, both of, I11.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 191,848 1/1923 Great Britain...............,....... 197/6.4

1221 Filed: Apr. 19, 1973 Appl. N0.: 352,576

Primary Examiner-Clifford D. Crowder Attorney, Agent, or FirmMerriam, Marshall, Shapiro & Klose e-e rt 1 w m 5 ct ger I a ma e .1 eo.m. e h 0m wmefie i mmm m n w e ha t r gfwn mms en d m VOme m l] d A 1 5 .l a c ev .V kEhOCd t-l-la S saf B .10 0 1& C C A bhm mrn a ua o Mk H mmkmn Lu 8 O y m c nomu s a e me C tCinT d uo Hm U S mm m 11 60 k recur w Pmdm m [Acfiamn mmlds /99 91,15 9 7 2H 1 26 w m W3 .I 4 W 9H I4I 1 12 3 9 4 H W 1. I. 9MB m oan- 2 9 ",3 G ru H 3 :M m nmz mmm & 7" 0 uqral 5 Mb U IF T H 5 55 being marked.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,714,794 5/1929 Luedtke et 101/21 x 152 Claims 30 Drawing Figures PATENTED Z 3.842.957

INVENTORS ATTORNEYS PAHENIEB wearer-a 45 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS l ELECTRICALLY HEATABLE SELECTIVE MARKING APPARATUS This is a continuation of application Ser. No. ll7,970, filed Feb. 27, l97l now abandoned.

This invention relates to marking devices and component parts thereof, which devices are suitable for marking a variety of work pieces with selected indicia utilizing controllable or predetermined marking temperature (in predetermining the marking temperature for some purposes, one may or may not wish to apply heat to the marking indicia), pressure or time.

As used herein, the term marking sometimes includes impressing, imprinting, printing, stamping, hot stamping, branding, hot leafing, hot roll leafing, embossing, heat embossing, and the like. The term indicia," as used herein with respect to marking indicia, sometimes includes characters, letters, names, words, numbers, punctuation marks, symbols, designs, emblems, patterns, trade names and trademarks. The marking indicia may be in the form of a die having raised type. The term work piece" is sometimes used herein to refer to articles of varied size and shape formed of any one of a variety of materials such as wood, leather, fiberboard, rubber, plastic, and the like, depending upon the particular marking conditions sought or used. The directional terms used herein (e.g., front, rear, left, right, clockwise and counterclockwise) sometimes are based on a front view of the marking device.

FIGS. I-24, discussed below, concern one illustrative embodiment of our marking device 25 (or component parts thereof) having a particular escapement and trip mechanism; FIGS. 25 and 26 concern an alternative escapement mechanism for such embodiment; and, each of FIGS. 27-30 concern other illustrative embodiments of our marking device, which embodiments may or may not include an escapement or trip mechanism such as those hereinbefore mentioned.

In the accompanying illustrative diagrammatic drawmgs:

FIG. I is a front elevational, perspective view of a first embodiment of our marking device in which the work piece is a conventional baseball bat and the marking assembly is being lowered towards the bat for marking purposes as a result of the downward movement of the manually-operated, actuating lever and connected slidable, reciprocating piston;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational, partial sectional view of the marking device of FIG. I viewed along the line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational, partial sectional view, similar to FIG. 2, showing an adjustable, reciprocating drive assembly, including an adjustable, marking regulator assembly, which helps control or vary, as desired, the marking pressure and mark' ing time;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevational, partial sectional view, similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, showing a portion of the adjustable, marking regulator assembly;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational, partial sectional view as viewed along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, front elevational view showing the adjustable coupling assembly (part of the adjustable, reciprocating drive assembly) shown in FIGS. l-3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, side elevational, partial sectional view, similar to FIG. 3 and viewed essentially along the line 7-7 of FIG. 8, showing opposed, springbiased, snub-nosed, bullet-shaped, detent pins which are positioned below the adjustable coupling assembly shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 6;

F IG. 8 is an enlarged, front elevational view showing one of the adjustable, spring-biased, snub-nosed, bullet-shaped, detent pins of FIGS. 1-3 and 7 projecting outwardly through a central opening of a cylindrical detent retainer;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, front elevational, perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, showing an upper portion of the marking device;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, front elevational. partial sectional view of the marking device showing a lower portion of the marking device;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, front elevational, partial sectional view of the latch mechanism shown in FIGS. I, 2 and 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary, top, horizontal, partial sectional view as viewed along the line 12-12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational, perspective view of FIG. 10 (with some structure removed for illustrative purposes) showing a lower portion of an escapement and trip mechanism which selectively controls the axial or longitudinal movement of the slidable carriage and bat supported thereby relative to the marking station of the marking assembly;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged, fragmentary, rear elevational, sectional view of FIGS. 10 and 13 viewed along the line 14-14 of FIGS. 2 and 13 and showing a pair of springbiased, double-acting, keeper pawls in operative relationship with ratchet teeth of a selected ratchet bar;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary, side elevational, partial sectional, perspective view (with an inner end portion of one lever arm broken away for illustrative purposes) of FIG. 13 showing portions of the escapement and trip mechanism which selectively controls the axial or longitudinal movement of the slidable carriage and supported bat;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational, partial sectional view showing certain details of an upper portion of the trip mechanism shown in FIGS. 2, l3 and 15;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational, sectional view as viewed along the line 17-17 of FIG. I8 and showing the clutch of the escapement and trip mechanism;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged, fragmentary, top, horizontal, partial sectional view as viewed along the line 18-18 of FIG. 13 and showing the clutch of the escapement and trip mechanism;

FIGS. 19-24 are front elevational views (with some structure removed for illustrative purposes) showing sequential rotational and longitudinal movement of the pair of keeper pawls (shown in less detail than FIGS. 13 and 14) relative to the ratchet teeth of the selected ratchet bar, whereby the progressive axial or longitudinal movement of the slidable carriage is controlled as desired;

FIG. 25 is a front elevational view (with some structure removed for illustrative purposes), similar to FIGS. 19-.24, showing one sequential stage (during the downstroke of the reciprocating piston) of a different escapement mechanism suitable for use in the first embodiment as well as other embodiments of the marking device, which mechanism includes a single, doubleacting, spring-biased, keeper pawl in operative rela tionship with ratchet teeth of a selected ratchet bar;

FIG. 26 is a front elevational view of the escapement mechanism shown in FIG. 25, but showing a later sequence (during the upstroke of the reciprocating piston) of the rotational and longitudinal movement ofthe single, double-acting, spring-biased, keeper pawl rela tive to the ratchet teeth, whereby the progressive axial or longitudinal movement of the slidable carriage is controlled as desired;

FIG. 27 is a side elevational view showing a portion of a second embodiment of our marking device wherein the device is similar to the first embodiment; however, the manually-operated, actuating lever is replaced by fluid pressure-operated, drive means;

FIG. 28 is a side elevational view showing a portion of a third embodiment of our marking device wherein the device is similar to the first embodiment; however, the manually-operated, actuating lever is replaced by motor-driven, variable transmission means and the structure used to support the work piece is somewhat different;

FIG. 29 is a side elevational view showing a portion ofa fourth embodiment of our marking device wherein the device is similar to the first embodiment; however, the structure used to support the work piece is different, the longitudinal or horizontal movement of the work piece is manually-controlled, and a strip of metallic leafing foil is positioned on that portion of the work piece which is to be marked by the marking wheel; and.

FIG. 30 is a front elevational view of a portion of a fifth embodiment of our marking device wherein the device is similar to the first embodiment; however, the manually-operated, actuating lever is replaced by fluid pressure-operated, drive means, similar to FIG. 27, the configuration of the marking wheel is somewhat differem, and a series of work pieces are moved continuously to and from the marking station by means of a continuous, synchronized, powered conveyor belt.

Referring first to the marking device 25, including its component parts, of FIGS. 1-24, the particular work piece shown in FIGS. I and is a conventional baseball bat made of wood (e.g., ash or hickory). The baseball bat is tapered along its axial or longitudinal length and is curved along planes normal or perpendicular to its longitudinal axis,

Although the particular marking assembly used in that device is adaptable for marking indicia on or into the surface of many other articles of different shapes and made of materials other than wood, particular problems are encountered in expeditiously marking baseball bats (particularly if one wishes to mark successively bats of different sizes and shapes with different selected indicia] which warrant or necessitate the construction and use of a versatile and highly controllable, marking device.

If one wishes to bring marking indicia into operating contact with the bat so as to imprint, for example, by a branding or hot leafing procedure. the individual owner's name onto the bat: the stroke used to impress the individual. raised heated characters of a particular name onto the bat should vary in certain instances with the axial taper of the bat; the pressure applied by the individual, raised heated characters on the bat should be substantially uniform, controllable and reproducible', and the length of time the individual, raised heated characters remain in direct (e.g., branding) or indirect (e.g., hot leafing) marking contact with the bat should be substantially uniform, controllable and reproduc' ible. If these operating factors do not exist to a proper or substantial degree, the burned-in or hot-leafed characters of the name are not likely to be substantially uniform, controllable or reproducible with respect to the same bat or different bats.

These operating factors become particularly acute when the successive bats to be marked are of varying sizes and shapes or are made of the same or different wood materials having different surface coatings or have different branding or hot leafing characteristics.

Furthermore, there are many other desirable operating conditions which, in many instances, should be satisfied. These operating conditions include, among other things: providing a marking assembly having marking indicia which do not have to be heated individually when selected for use for marking purposes by the operator; providing a rotatable, heated marking assembly which can be selectively rotated for marking purposes to different, selected marking indicia without unduly heating the structure on or by which the marking assembly is mounted or supported, thereby preventing or obviating excessive wear thereat; obviating the need of unduly twisting the electrical wiring used to heat the marking indicia when the marking assembly is rotated so as to place a selected marking indicium at the marking station; and, selectively moving the work piece in a predetermined or controlled manner as the marking of the same or different work piece progresses.

The versatile, compact marking device 25, including its component parts, illustrated in FIGS. 1-24 concerns a branding device or a device suitable for hot leafing purposes, is particularly well-suited to obviate or overcome such potential or existing problems or to satisfy such factors or conditions. Furthermore, the marking device 25 can be adapted for use for selectively marking advantageously a variety of work pieces in a con trolled or predetermined manner.

In operating the marking device 25 of FIGS. 1-24, when any selected marking indicium or blank space on the periphery of the marking wheel or turret 96 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 10) is positioned at the marking station and is lowered vertically into operative contact with the baseball bat 20 (FIGS. 1 and 10), the imprint of the selected, heated raised type of the indicium is formed on or in the bat or an appropriate blank space on the marking wheel is selectively provided.

Each marking indicium contacts the bat 20 at a common operating position or station. That common operating station is at the lowermost position on the marking wheel 96 and is located directly above the bat 20. Each time the marking wheel is thereafter raised from the bat during the reciprocating cycle, the slidable carriage assembly on which the bat is mounted or retained (FIGS. 1, 2 and 10) moves or completes its movement a certain selected and controlled incremental distance to the left. This movement can be controlled by an escapement or trip mechanism, The escapement-trip mechanism also allow, when desired, the carriage assembly to be moved independently of any reciprocating marking or spacing operation. When the end of the line to be marked is reached, the bat can be released from the marking device, or rotated to another marking line, or returned readily to the right, desired, by the operator.

The marking device 25 is provided with selective means: to hold, for marking purposes, work pieces such as baseball bats of different sizes and shapes; to place the portion of the work piece to be marked in a substantially horizontal position or substantially parallel to the marking indicium selected for marking purposes when that indicium is positioned at the marking station; to rotate the work piece along its length or elongated or horizontal axis in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, so as to select a new or different line for spacing or marking purposes; to move selectively or automatically the work piece axially or horizontally to the left (the next marking station is then positioned to the right of the previous mark imprinted on the work piece) one increment upon the completion of a reciprocating marking cycle for a selected marking indicium or blank space on the outer periphery of the rotatable marking wheel 96, thereby advancing the work piece for the next marking or spacing operation; to move the work piece axially or longitudinally or horizontally a selected distance in either direction (i.e., left or right) without subjecting the work piece to any marking operation and without requiring moving the reciprocating piston 47 (which carries the rotatable marking wheel 96) in a vertical direction towards or away from the work piece.

The particular marking device 25 (eg, branding or hot leafing device) illustrated in FIGS. 1-24 includes, among other things, a stationary base portion 26 secured to a table 19 (FIGS. 1, 2 and by suitable means (e.g., bolts). The base portion 26 supports a vertically extending, stationary post portion 35 (FIGS. 1-4, 9, l0 and A reciprocating drive assembly and operatively connected, vertically extending, slidable, reciprocating piston 47 (FIGS. 1-4, 9, l0 and 15) are supported by or are operatively associated with the post portion 35. A marking assembly having a marking wheel 96 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 10) is operatively associated with and supported by the piston 47. The base portion 26 also supports a slidable carriage assembly having a carriage 123 and bracket 132 (FIGS. 1 and 10) for supporting the baseball bat (FIGS. 1 and 10).

The reciprocating piston 47 has vertically extending, side tongues 48 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 9 and 15) which are slidably retained in the complementary, vertically extending, opposed grooves 36 (FIGS. 1, 2, 9 and 15) at the front of the post 35 (FIGS. 1, 9 and 15). If desired, spaced-apart ball or roller bearings (now shown) may be rotatably mounted and retained in the grooves 36, so as to facilitate the downstroke and upstroke of the reciprocating piston 47. The marking assembly, including the marking wheel 96 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 10), is mounted to and projects outwardly from the front of the reciprocating piston 47 and is carried to a lowered marking position and raised position during the vertical reciprocating cycle of the piston.

The reciprocating drive assembly actuates or causes the reciprocating movement of the piston 47 and supported marking assembly towards and away from the work piece and includes or is operatively associated with an adjustable, marking regulator assembly which controls the marking time-pressure effected upon the selected or predetermined reciprocating movement of the piston 47 and marking assembly to and away from the work piece.

The particular marking assembly of the marking device 25 of FIGS. 1-24, which happens to be suitable or adaptable for branding or hot leafing purposes, has a horizontally extending, rotatable, cylindrical or tubular casing (FIGS. 1 and 2) made of metal or the like which is rotatably mounted in the horizontally extending, circular opening 54 of the piston 47. Enlarged. annular recesses 55 communicate with the outer ends of the opening 54 (FIG. 2). The casing 90 is internally lined with heat insulating material (FIG. 2) such as asbestos or the like and projects outwardly from the front of the piston 47 (FIGS. 1 and 2). An electrically heated, selectively rotatable, disk-shaped, marking wheel or turret 96 of circular configuration (the marking wheel, however, may be non-circular or ofa desired configuration) is affixed to the front, outer end of the casing 90 and rotates therewith, and is positioned directly above the baseball bat 20 or other selected work piece, and is spaced away from the vicinity of the slidable piston 47 (FIGS. 1 and 2). This spacing of the heated marking wheel away from the piston serves to allow for the dissipation of heat which is directed essentially to the vicinity of the marking indicia positioned on the outer periphery of the marking wheel. A knurled turning knob 99 for selectively rotating the marking wheel 96 and connected casing 90 in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, as desired, is affixed to the front end of the marking wheel 96 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

Selected, heated, raised marking indicia 97, which may be in the form of type made of cast bronze or the like, extend about and are integrally or detachably formed on or to the outer periphery of the marking wheel 96 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 10). Corresponding identification indicia 98 (FIGS. 1 and 10) are printed, embossed or engraved, for identification purposes, about the front periphery of the marking wheel 96, so that corresponding marking indicia and identification indicia are in radial alignment with each other.

This alignment allows the operator to look at a particular identification indicium at the front of the marking wheel 96 and selectively place that indicium in its lowermost position on the marking wheel and conveniently know that it identifies corresponding marking indicium which is positioned in its marking station which, likewise, is located at its lowermost position on the outer periphery of the marking wheel and directly above the bat; this alignment arrangement can be used by the operator to obviate the need for actually searching for and rotatably selecting marking indicium or blank spaces merely by the direct examination thereof.

Thus, the particular marking indicium selected for branding or hot leafing purposes is in or at the marking position or station when it is positioned at the bottom of the marking wheel 96 and is directly above and faces that portion of the work piece which is to bear the selected marking indicium.

It is helpful for many, if not most, purposes that the same marking indicium or a plurality of blank space be repeated or positioned on the outer periphery of the marking wheel 96, so as to allow the operator to dial readily a selected marking indicium or a blank space.

This arrangement of repeating marking indicia and blank spaces about the circumference of the marking wheel 96 enables the operator to repeat the marking of the same character and to allow for blank spaces on a selected work piece with minimal rotation (less than 360 rotation) of the marking wheel 96, thereby reducing the rotational movement of the casing at the piston and the chance of shortening the effective life of the electrical wiring used for heating the marking indicia by excessive rotation of the marking assembly.

An outwardly projecting, stop pin 94 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is affixed to and extends radially from the casing 90, and a horizontally extending, fixed stop pin 106 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is connected to and projects from a channelshaped ring 102 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 5) which is mounted to the front of the reciprocating piston 47. These stop pins 94 and 106 serve to stop or limit the rotation of the casing 90 and attached marking wheel 96 when the stop pins are positioned perpendicularly against each other (stop position) as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The casing 90 has a pair of spaced-apart, radially upstanding, circular, disk-retaining flanges 91 (FIG. 2) affixed thereto, each of which pair of flanges includes a pair of upstanding, circular lip portions which securely retain a flat, annular, heat-resistant and wearresistant disk 100 (FIGS. 2 and S). If desired, the disk 100 can be constructed of plastic or other suitable material. The pair of flat disks 100 rotate only with not independently of the casing 90. A series of radially spaced-apart dimples 101 are located about the periphery of each of the disks 100 (FIG. 5). The dimples of each of the disks are aligned with each other and the respective marking indicia or designated blank spaces on the marking wheel.

Each of the spaced-apart, annular recesses 55 re ceives and retains a stationary, circular, channelshaped ring 102 (FIGS. 2 and 5) formed of metal or the like which is securely and non-rotatably affixed therein. As mentioned above, the horizontally extending, stationary, stop pin 106 is connected to and projects from the front or left of the channel-shaped ring 102 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. Each ofthe spaced-apart rings 102 has a pair of directly opposed (spaced I80 apart), upper and lower, tubular, radially extending, spring-retaining openings 103 (FIGS. 2 and 5). Each of the spring-retaining openings 103 retains an open helical, resilient, wire detent spring 104 which resiliently urges a slidable, snub-nosed, bullet-shaped, detent pin 105 against the periphery and consequently into the spaced-apart, complementary peripheral dimples 101 of the annular, flat disks 100 (FIG. 5).

When the knurled knob 99 is rotated to place a selected marking indicium or blank space into its or their operating or lowermost station on the marking wheel 96, each of the spring-biased, detent pins 105 of the rings I02 slide into temporary locking engagement with the complementary dimples which are appropriately spaced-apart about the outer peripheral surface of the annular disks 100.

The dimples 101 of the flat disks 100 are aligned with the marking indicia, as well as the blank spaces of the marking wheel 96, so that when a selected marking in dicium or blank space is rotated by the knob 99 to its or their operating or lowermost station on the marking wheel 96, the casing 90 and attached marking wheel 96 are temporarily locked-in-place by action of the pair of opposed, springbiased, detent pins 105 being urged into appropriate complementary dimples of each of the disks 100. This procedure may be repeated as desired.

As shown in FIG. 2, the marking wheel 96 and raised marking indicia are heated by means of a coiled tubular element 107 made of metal which is embedded or cast within the marking wheel 96 and has its outer ends projecting horizontally. The ends of the tubular element are operatively connected to a pair of electrically insulated, conductor wires 112 by means of a pair of insulated terminals Ill. The tubular element 107 includes therein, an inner, resistance-type, continuous, wire heating element 109 which may be formed of a nickelchromium alloy or the like; the wire heating element 109 is surrounded by dielectric material 108 which, in turn, is surrounded by the tubular element 107 (see broken section of the tubular element 107 in FIG. 2). The dielectric material 108, which may be formed of zinc oxide or manganese dioxide or the like, provides insulation for the resistance-type wire 109 (FIG. 2).

The tubular element 107 can be shaped or bent as desired and is preferably arranged in the form of a coil of substantial length about which the marking wheel 96 is cast. This assures good thermal conduction from a large surface of the tubular element. The embedding of the tubular element 107 in the marking wheel 96 minimizes or prevents variations in expansion and contraction of the tubular element which, if permitted to occur, could shorten its effective life.

The outer ends of the wire heating element 109 are connected to the pair of insulated terminals 111, and the ends of the conductor wires 112 are secured to the insulated terminals 111 by means of binding posts (not shown), thereby completing the electrical circuit through the wire heating element 109 (FIG. 2).

A pair of circular insulating rings 110 made of mica or other suitable insulating material separate the ends of the insulated terminals 111 from the end of the dielectric material 108 surrounding the wire heating element 109 (FIG. 2).

An electrical circuit or arrangement similar to the one described above, for applying heat to marking indicia positioned about a marking wheel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,956,016.

The joined-together, conductor wires 112 are spirally coiled in the form of a pigtail configuration 113 having a desired number of convolutions so that a minimal amount of mechanical strain is placed on the wires when the marking assembly is rotated (FIG. 2). The particular pigtail configuration shown in FIG. 2 for illustrative purposes has more convolutions than may be necessary or desired.

The conductor wires 112 extend from the pigtail configuration outwardly from the casing through the central circular opening of a double-lipped grommet 93 which is securely mounted in a circular hole 92 at the rear end of the casing 90 (FIG. 2). The central opening of the grommet is larger than the pair of conductor wires and thus allows the casing 90 to be rotated without necessarily rotating the conductor wires.

The grommet 93 may be made of resilient material such as natural or synthetic rubber and can provide some support for the conductor wires 112 and means for relieving some mechanical strain from the conductor wires. If desired, an open helical, resilient, wire spring (not shown) may abut the outer, rear end of the grommet and extend outwardly thereof along the conductor wires, so as to reinforce the conductor wires 112 and relieve, further, mechanical strain.

The conductor wires 112 of the marking assembly terminate outside of the casing 90 at an electrical plug 114 which is shown in FIG. 2 plugged into a socket of a variable transformer 115. The transformer 115 selectively adjusts or controls the operating voltage and the heat supplied by the resistance-type wire heating element 109 to the marking indicia. The transformer 115 has a pair of secured-together, insulated conductor wires 118 which extend to a plug 119 which may be connected to a selected source of electrical power, has an on-off switch 116, and has a rotatable dial 117 with a pointer which may be rotated to selected, graduated, numerical settings for purposes of selecting and controlling the desired level of heat supplied to the marking indicia. One may wish, for certain marking purposes, not to apply heat or merely to apply a selected low level of heat to the marking indicia. When heat is applied to the marking indicia, all the indicia may be heated simultaneously and one need not take time to heat separately each selected marking indicium.

The adjustable, reciprocating drive assembly, includes a hinged, manually-actuated lever 58 (FIGS. 1-3 and 9) with a front handle 59 at its outer, free end (FIGS. 1 and 9). The other end of the lever 58 is hinged to the post 35 by means of a cylindrical pivot pin 61 which extends laterally through an opening in the lever 58 and is operatively and rotatably retained in aligned openings of a fixed forked bracket 37 positioned on and connected to the upper end of the stationary post 35 (FIGS. I3 and 9).

The reciprocating drive assembly also includes a vertically extending, reciprocating, cylindrical, drive shaft extension 62 which is hinged to the lever 58 by means of a cylindrical pivot pin 60 which extends laterally through an opening in the lever 58 and is operatively and rotatably retained in aligned openings of a forked bracket 63 positioned at the upper end of the drive shaft extension (FIGS. 1-3 and 9). The lower end of the drive shaft extension 62 has external threads 64 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 6) which threadably engage the internal threads of an externally-knurled, rotatably adjustable, coupling sleeve 68 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 6). An upper portion of the adjustable coupling sleeve 68 has circumferentially spaced-apart, externally positioned, numerical settings, some of which are shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 9.

The upper end of the vertically extending, reciprocating, cylindrical drive shaft 72 has external threads which likewise threadably engage the internal threads of the adjustable coupling sleeve 68 (FIGS. 3 and 6). The internal threads (not shown) of an externally knurled, tubular locking sleeve 71 threadably engage the external threads of the drive shaft 72 below the coupling sleeve 68 (FIGS. l-3, 6 and 9). The locking sleeve 71 locks the coupling sleeve 68 in palce at the selected or predetermined numerical setting of the coupling sleeve.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 show the coupling sleeve 68 and locking sleeve 71 of the reciprocating drive assembly in abutting locking relationship, whereas FIGS. 3 and 9 show them in axially spaced-apart relationship.

The drive shaft extension 62 and drive shast 72 may be selectively, threadably adjusted or positioned axially toward or away from each other, depending upon the particular direction in which the adjustable coupling sleeve 68 and drive shaft 72 are rotated and the overall shaft length sought. The selected numerical setting of the adjustable coupling sleeve 68 may be secured in place, if desired, by rotating the locking sleeve 71 until it is positioned in abutting contact with the coupling sleeve 68 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 6).

A vertically extending pointer 65 (FIGS. 1-3, 6 and 9) is secured at its upper end to the drive shaft extension 62 by a screw 67 (FIGS. 3, 6 and 9). The other or lower free end of the pointer 65 is offset so as to overhang the adjustable coupling sleeve 68 (FIGS. I-3 and 9). The overhanging free end of the pointer 65 has a vertically extending indicator line 66 positioned directly above the numerical settings of the adjustable coupling sleeve 68 (FIG. 6), whereby one can readily and selectively adjust the overall length of the reciprocating drive assembly by varying the overall length of the inter-connected, drive shaft extension 62 and drive shaft 72 by rotating the adjustable coupling sleeve 68 or drive shaft 72 and axially positioning the drive shaft extension 62 and drive shaft 72 closer together or farther apart.

The adjustable, marking regulator assembly, which is operatively associated with and is a part of the reciprocating drive assembly, provides means for the operator to selectively and adjustably control or regulate the marking pressure and time.

The drivu shaft 72 of the marking regulator assembly has a circular, horizontally extending, internally threaded opening 73 extending laterally through it (FIG. 7). A pair of adjustable, cylindrical, externally threaded, detent retainers 77 are positioned in spacedapart, aligned relationship and in threaded engagement with the threaded opening 73 of the drive shaft 72. Each detent retainer has a stepped, circular opening 79 which extends centrally and horizontally or axially through the retainer (FIG. 7). The circular openings 79 of the retainers 77 are in axial alignment. As shown in FIG. 7, the enlarged circular part of each of the stepped retainer openings 79 is positioned at the internally positioned end portion of the detent retainer.

A horizontally extending, open helical, resilient, wier detent spring 83 is axially positioned in the threaded opening 73 of the drive shaft 72 and between the spaced-apart detent retainer 77 (FIGS. 3 and 7).

A pair of spaced-apart, laterally and horizontally slidable, circular, snb-nosed, detent pins 84 having flat, internally positioned, circular base 85 and bulletshaped, externally positioned noses 86 extend into and outwardly through the enlarged, centrally-positioned, stepped, circular retainer openings 79 (FIG. 7).

As shown in FIG. 7, the detent spring 83 contacts one of the sides (the closest sides) of the flat circular bases 85 of the detent pins 84; this tends to urge the detent pins 84 into their outwardly-extended position with the annular other side of the bases 85 being positioned against the annular shoulder of the enlarged portion of the stepped openings 79 of the detent retainers 77.

The outer ends of each of the detent retainers 77 have circumferentially positioned, numerical settings (FIG. 8) and spaced-apart, spanner holes 81 for receiving a spanner wrench (not shown) for rotation or adjustment purposes (FIGS. and 8). The outward tension applied by the detent spring 83 on the detent pins 84 can be selectively adjusted by rotating the detent retainers 77 axially toward or away from each other and the detent spring 83 by inserting a spanner wrench into the spanner holes 81 and rotating, as desired, the engaged spanner wrench and, in turn, the engaged detent retainer in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The detent spring 83 may also be replaced, as desired, by other springs which apply a different but desired amount of outward force to the detent pins.

FIG. 8 shows the numerical settings and spanner holes 81 of one of the detent retainers 77, and an adjustment indicator 74 marked on the drive shaft 72 directly above the selected numerical setting of the detent. A similar arrangement exists for the other detent retainer.

A flat, horizontally positioned, annular, drive shaft collar 49 with a central, drive shaft opening for slidably receiving the reciprocating drive shaft 72 is held in spaced relation to the top of the piston 47 by a pair of opposed, vertically positioned, L-shaped, upstanding supporting arms 53 which are connected to the top of the piston and the front and rear of the collar 49 (FIGS. 1-4 and 9).

A pair of opposed, horizontally extending, L-shaped, supporting arms 42 (FIGS. 1-4 and 9) which are con nected to the stationary post 35 extend outwardly from the front of the post and extend inwardly to opposite sides of a spring-supporting cup 38 (FIGS. 1-4 and 9). The spring-supporting cup has a flanged bottom end 39 (FIGS. 2-4) with a drive shaft opening 40 therein (FIG. 3) for slidably receiving the reciprocating drive shaft 72. An open helical, resilient, wire piston spring 41 (FIG. 2-4 and 9) is vertically retained in and supported by the cup 38 as shown in FIG. 3. One may replace the piston spring 41 with one of desired size or shape.

A pair of spaced-apart, upstanding arms 43 extend from the horizontally positioned, supporting arms 42 and terminate in the form of inwardly extending fingers 44 which, when contacted by the upper surface of the draft shaft collar 49, provide stop means for limiting the upstroke of the reciprocating piston 47 and attached marking assembly (FIGS. 1, 2 and 9).

With respect to the operation of the reciprocating drive assembly, including the adjustable regulator assembly, when the handle 59 of the manually-actuated lever 58 is pivoted counter-clockwise by the operator in a continuous downward direction, the downward stroke of the reciprocating piston 47 and attached marking assembly is initiated. The drive shaft assembly (drive shaft extension 62 and drive shaft 72) is lowered, the outwardly extended, snub-nosed, spring-biased, detent pins 84 are urged against the upper, beveled peripheral region 50 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 7) of the drive shaft opening at the top of the drive shaft collar 49 of the reciprocating piston 47, and the open helical, resilient wire piston spring 41 supported in the stationary, spring-supporting cup 38 is compressed. The outwardly extended detent pins 84 urge the drive shaft collar 49 and connected reciprocating piston 47 and marking as sembly downwardly as the downward stroke of the lever 58 and drive shaft assembly is continued. The seleeted marking indicia of the heated marking wheel 96 is brought downwardly into operating contact with the work piece, the bat 20, and the further downward stroke of the piston 47 and selected heated marking indicium is limited ultimately by the work piece itself.

As the manually-operated lever 58 is moved downwardly further, the extended, spring-biased, detent pins 84 are urged inwardly toward each other and inwardly of the shaft opening in the drive shaft collar 49. This movement inwardly of the detent pins 84 compresses the detent spring 83. The downward thrust of the drive shaft assembly is continued until the detent pins 84 are in an extended position below the opening of the collar 49', the detent pins 84 are urged outwardly to their extended position below the collar 49 by action of expansion of the previously compressed, detent spring 83. Once the detent pins 84 are so extended below the collar 49, the operator is apprised that the selected, controlled or predetermined, substantially reproducible, marking pressure and marking time have been reached. At this point of the operation, the piston spring 41 has been compresed in the cup 38.

The upstroke of the drive shaft assembly and piston 47 is .lhen begun. This is accomplished by the raising of the handle 59 of the lever 58 with the assistance of the expanding, theretofore compressed, piston spring 41 and the operator. The force induced by the expansion of the compressed piston spring 41 urges the collar 49 and connected piston 47 upwardly with the extended detent pins 84 positioned at the lower, beveled peripheral region 51 (FIGS. 3 and 7) of the drive shaft opening of the collar 49. The inwardly extending fingers 44 at the upper ends of the upstanding arms 43 provide stop means for restricting the upper stroke of the collar 49 and connected piston 47 and marking assembly. However, when the operator further urges the lever 58 upwardly at this stage of the operation, the drive shaft assembly is moved axially upwardly until the extended detent pins 84 are moved inwardly, pass through the drive'shaft opening of the collar 49 and are reset above the drive shaft opening in their initial extended position.

As is apparent from the above description of the operation of the adjustable, marking regulator assembly, which is part of the reciprocating drive assembly, the selected adjustment of the detent retainers 77 controls the amount of outward tension or force which is applied to the detent pins 84 by the detent spring 83. This adjustment, in turn, enables the same or a different operator to apply substantially the same, selected, reproducible marking pressure and marking time to work pieces of a particular configuration or construction and thereby allows for control of the marking characteristics of the heated marking indicia (e.g., obviates excessive after-burn" or excessive carbonization which can result from too long a dwell time or the application of excessive pressure during branding).

Thus, one can mark the work piece with the heated marking indicia of the marking device 25 with predetermined or controlled heat and pressure for a predetermined or controlled period of time. This marking treatment occurs after desired selections or adjustments have been made by the operator in the heat, pressure and time conditions to be applied to or by the marking indicia (e.g., by trial and error), so that the proper or desired operating conditions exist (e.g., effectively branding wood without producing excessive carbonization thereof).

FIGS. 1 and 10 shows a removable, adjustable, spirit level holder 21 having a spirit level 22 positioned on the bat 20. This holder may be placed or slid along the axial length of the bat before the marking of the bat starts or as it progesses. By selectively positioning the bat and placing the spirit level 22 close to or in the vicinity of the marking station, one can determine whether the longitudinal axial taper of the bat is substantially level, that is, whether the bat is positioned in a substantially horizontal position and substantially perpendicular to the downward vertical path to be followed by the selected marking indicium during the reciprocating marking operation. The positioning of the bat in this manner obviates, to some degree, the need to vary the overall length of the reciprocating drive assembly during successive marking operations, despite the varying axial taper of the bat.

If the bat is not positioned in a level manner as described above, an end of the bat can be raised or lowered in a selected or adjustable manner.

The stationary base portion 26 of the marking device 25 has an elongated, horizontally extending, dovetail groove 27 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which slidably receives and retains the elongated, horizontally extending, complementary dovetail tongue 124 (FIG. 2) of the slidable carriage 123 (FIGS. 1 and of the carriage assembly. Ball bearings 28 (FIG. 2) are positioned and retained between the tongue and groove to facilitate the selected, horizontal sliding movement, in either direction, of the carriage and the supported bat carried thereby.

The carriage assembly also includes a U-shaped, bracket assembly having a bracket 132 with an elongated, horizontally extending, base portion with upturned end portions for supporting the bat is affixed to and carried by the slidable carriage (FIGS. 1 and 10).

More specifically, the elongated, horizontally extending, base portion 133 of the bracket 132 is connected at its left end to the carriage 123 by means of a bolt 142. The right end of the bracket has a slotted portion which receives a portion of the carriage; this end of the bracket is pivotally connected to the carriage by means of a cylindrical pivot pin 148 which extends horizontally through connecting or aligned openings of the slotted portion of the bracket and the carriage (FIGS. 1 and 10).

The spirit levels 134 and 146 are attached to the upper side of the base portion 133 and to the top of the right, upturned end portion, respectively, of the bracket 132 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 10).

Referring to FIG. 10, a left, cup-shaped, rotatable chuck 150 for securing the handle end of the bat 20 in place is connected to a rotatable, horizontally extending, cylindrical shaft 151 which extends outwardly to the left of the chuck 150. The shaft 151 extends through and rotates in the central circular opening of a circular bushing 136 which is secured in place in a circular stepped opening in the left, upturned end portion 135 of the bracket 132. The rotatable gear 152 is affixed to the left, outer end of the shaft 151. A second, rotatable, horizontally extending, cylindrical drive shaft 153 is positioned directly above the shaft 151 and is rotatably mounted and secured in a central circular opening of a circular bushing 137 which is affixed in a circular opening in the left, upturned end portion 135 of the bracket. A drive gear 154 and upwardly extending, socket wrench lever 155 with an outer handle 156 are affixed to the left, outer end of the drive shaft 153. The teeth on the periphery of the upper and

lower gears

154 and 152, respectively, operatively and rotatably mesh with each other, so that the rotation of the drive gear 154 rotates the other gear 152.

A threaded locking bolt 157 (FIG. 1) can be rotated in its threaded hole in the left, upturned end portion of the bracket 132 either (a) to advance it into locking contact with the shaft 151 so as to prevent the rotation of the shaft or (b) to withdraw it from locking contact with the shaft so that the shaft can rotate.

The lever 155 and handle 156 extend radially outwardly from the drive shaft 153 and through the slotted, U-shaped opening defined by horizontally and outwardly projecting, spaced-apart fingers 138 (FIGS. 1, 10 and 12) positioned at the upper end of the left, upturned end portion 135 of the bracket. As shown in FIG. 12, an elongated, horizontally extending, resilient spring having undulations along its length extends transversely across the width of the slotted, U-shaped opening and is connected at its outer ends by screws 141 to the spaced-apart fingers 138. The undulations of the spring 140 serve to retain the lever 155 in place until it is moved to a different, selected setting by the operator. A graduated scale 139 (FIGS. 1 and 12) is located at the upper, outer end of the left, upturned end portion 135 of the bracket. The space provided between the spaced-apart fingers 138 may be increased, as desired, to allow for greater rotational movement of the lever 155.

When one wishes to rotate the bat 20 clockwise or counter-clockwise so as to present a new line for marking or spacing purposes, the handle 156 of the lever 155 can be rotated a predetermined amount (as indicated by the scale 139). This rotational movement of the handle 156 rotates the drive gear 154 which, in turn, rotates the gear 152, shaft 151, chuck and bat 20. The undulations in the resilient spring 140 are aligned with the graduations of the scale 139 and provide keeper means for receiving and retaining the lever in a selected or fixed position until further rotational adjustment is sought.

Again referring to FIG. 10, a second, cup-shaped, rotatable, right thrust chuck 158 secures the thick end of the bat 20 in place upon horizontal axial movement of the chuck towards the bat. The thrust chuck 158 is rotatably connected to a rotatable, horizontally extending, worm gear 159 which is rotatable mounted in the right, upturned end portion 143 of the bracket 132. The chuck 158 and worm gear 159 are rotatably connected to each other at 161 and rotate together when the worm gear 159 is moved axially to the left or right for purposes of securing the bat in place or releasing it. However, only the chuck 158 rotates, not the worm gear 159, when the chuck 158 is caused to be rotated (by rotation of the chuck 150 and inter-connecting bat) for purposes of presenting a new line for marking purposes.

More specifically, the worm gear 159 extends outwardly from the chuck 158, to the right through an internally threaded opening 145 in the right, upturned end portion 143 and to a rotatable hand wheel 160 which is affixed to the right, outer end of the worm gear. The external threads of the worm gear 159 and complementary internal threads of the opening 145 of the upturned end portion 143 operatively mesh with each other.

The rotation of the hand wheel 160, either in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, advances or retracts the worm gear 159 and chuck 158 at the same time axially toward or away from the thick end of the bat, thereby selectively securing or locking the bat in place for marking purposes or releasing it from the marking device 25.

The axially movable chuck 158 is rotatably connected (e.g., by thrust bearing with races and ball bearing) to the worm gear 159 at 161, so that when the bat is secured in place for marking purposes and the other or left chuck 150 is rotated, as explained above, the axially movable chuck 158 can rotate at the same time with the bat, independently of the worm gear 159 and without causing any horizontal axial movement of the worm gear.

If desired, the axially movable chuck 158 and worm gear 159 can be connected to each other in a rigid manner so that one of these elements cannot be rotated independently of the other as described above.

The slidable carriage 123 and secured-in-placed bat are urged to the left (FIGS. 1 and 10) by means of a partly coiled, constant-force, high stress, long deflection (extension), metal extension spring 165 (e.g., Negator" spring) which is mounted on a rotatable reel or spindle 163 (FIG. 10) which, in turn, is mounted on a stationary stand 162 which is secured to the table 19 (FIGS. 1 and 10). The right, outer, free end of the uncoiled portion of the spring 165 is connectd at 131 to the slidable carriage 123 (FIG. 10).

The final load of the constant-force, extension spring is limited only by the length of the spring material; at all extensions, the load remains the same. The spring 165 is a coiled metal band formed of a prestressed strip of flat spring stock and resists uncoiling with a force that does not increase with linear displacement. Like a conventional spring, the constant-force spring stores energy by being forcibly stretched from a relaxed position; when permitted to release this energy, the constant-force spring recoils around its bushing and exerts a pull in doing so.

If desired, the extension spring 165 may be of a form other than that discussed above or specifically shown herein. One can use, for example, a motor-type spring.

The strand 162 may be connected to the stationary base portion 26 of the marking device 25, if desired, by means of a connecting rod 164 as shown in FIGS. 1 (broken for illustrative purposs) and 10.

The extension spring 165 causes the slidable carriage 123 to move horizontally to the left as the marking of the bat progresses, provided the carriage is not held in place by an escapement mechansim such as described later below. The extension spring 165 uncoils from the reel 163 when the carriage is moved selectively to the right by the operator as described later below.

The escapement-trip mechanism which allows for, among other things, the selected or incremental movement of the slidable carriage 123 and baseball bat 20 to the left during the marking operation, includes a rotatable, elongated, horizontally extending, rotatable ratchet assembly having a plurality of elongated, horizontally and radially extending, ratchet bars affixed to a horizontally extending, rotatable, cylindrical roller 172. The ratchet bars coact with pawl or dog means.

The ratchet bars 173, 177 and 179 shown in FIGS. 2 and 10 and ratchet bar 181 shown in FIG. 2 are secured to the circumference of the rotatable, cylindrical ratchet roller 172 and are circumferentially spaced apart 90 apart. Their respective ratchet-shaped teeth extend radially outwardly. Each of these ratchet bars have uniform ratchet teeth of the same shape and size, although the shape and size of the teeth of each ratchet bar are different from the teeth of the other ratchet bars. The particular teeth of the ratchet bars shown in FIG. 10 have a contour somewhat similar to the contour of the teeth of a rip saw; however, the contour and size of the teeth may be varied as desired.

The individual ratchet bars may be detachably affixed to the ratchet roller and may be replaced, as desired, by ratchet bars having teeth of the desired configuration and size.

The ratchet bar selected for use is in its operating position when it is selectively placed in an upper, vertically extending position on the ratchet roller with its ratchet teeth extending radially upwardly. The ratchet bar 173 is shown in its operating position in FIGS. 2, 10, 13-15, and 19-24, as well as FIGS. 25 and 26. Each stepped or zig-zag tooth of that ratchet bar 173 provides one incremental space and is defined by an elongated upper inclined surface 175 and an intersecting inclined forward surface 176.

The ratchet assembly shown in FIG. 10 has a pair of centrally positioned, cylindrical

outer extensions

166 and 167 which extend horizontally outwardly of the left and right, outer ends, respectively, of the ratchet roller 172. The left end plate 168 is affixed to the roller 172. The left extension 166 extends outwardly from the end plate 168 and is afiixed thereto and is rotatably mounted in a circular central opening of a circular bushing 29 which is held in place in a circular opening in the stationary base portion 26. The right extension 167 extends outwardly from the roller 172 and is rotatably mounted in a circular opening 30 in the base portion 26.

Again referring to FIG. 10, spaced-apart, outwardly extending fingers 169 are connected to the end plate 168 of the ratchet assembly and project radially outwardly of the end plate. One of the fingers 169 is aligned with and is positioned adjacent to the left, outer end of each of the ratchet bars 173, 177, 179 and 181.

The base portion 26 of the marking device 25 and underside of the slidable carriage 123 each have opposed, elongated, continuous, transverse finger grooves or

slots

32 and 125, respectively, which freely receive or accommodate opposed, vertically positioned fingers 169 of the ratchet assembly. When one rotates the roller 172 so as to place a selected ratchet bar in operating position, the radially extending fingers 69 rotate freely in or through the transverse lower and

upper slots

32 and 125, respectively, without being obstructed.

A hand wheel 170 is affixed to the outer end of the right extension 167 of the ratchet assembly and may be used by the operator to rotate selectively the ratchet roller 172 either in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, so that the ratchet bar selected for purposes of allowing the desired incremental advancement of the carriage 123 and supported bat 20 during the marking operation is rotated into its upper operating position.

In order to secure the selected ratchet bar in an upper operating position for marking purposes, a pair of opposed, upper and lower, spring-biased, detent pins 31 are retained in the opening 30 in the right extension 167 in the base portion 26. When the roller 172 is rotated, the detent pins 31 become seated in complementary dimples positioned about the periphery of the right extension 167. Complementary dimples are aligned with each of the ratchet bars; additional complementary dimples are positioned between those which are aligned with the ratchet bars.

An elongated, continuous, straight, horizontally extending, finger slot or groove 126 in the underside of the carriage 123 connects with and extends to the right of the transverse finger slot 125 of the carriage 123. The elongated slot 126 freely receives the upper, vertically extending finger 169 of a selected, operating ratchet bar, so that the outer end of that vertically extending finger which is aligned with that bar is positioned in the elongated slot 126 during movement of the carriage and during such movement is free of or unobstructed by the carriage structure. The upper, vertically extending finger remains fixed in the elongated slot 126 of the carriage when the carriage is moved selectively horizontally during the marking operation of the marking device 25. The slot 126 thus prevents the ratchet roller 172 from rotating during the sliding movement of the carriage.

The escapement-trip mechanism shown in FIGS. 13-24 includes a pair of rotatable, spring-biased, keeper pawls or

dogs

183 and 191 which are positioned in side-by-side relationship and coact with the ratchet teeth of the selected ratchet bar to allow the carriage spring 165 to advance the carriage 123 and supported bat 20 incrementally to the left in a step-wise manner during the reciprocating cycle of the piston 47 and marking wheel 96. The two pawls, together, constitute double-acting, keeper pawl means.

The pawls are detachable and can be replaced, as desired, by pawls of a desired or appropriate size or shape.

The pawls, as well as the ratchet assembly, are part of the escapement mechanism. However, they can also be operated as part of the trip mechanism and positioned so as to allow one to move or permit movement of the carriage in either direction (i.e., left or right) without requiring reciprocating movement of the piston and marking wheel carried thereby.

The spring-biased, leading or inner (rear as viewed in FIG. 13) keeper pawl 183 (FIGS. 13 and 14) is firmly affixed to the front end of a rotatable, elongated, horizontally and transversely extending, tubular sleeve member 187 (FIGS. 13, 14 and 18). A rotatable lever arm 188 having an outer, rearwardly directed, horizontally extending, pawl-actuating finger 189 is affixed to and extends from the other (rear) end of the sleeve 18'] (FIGS. l3,14, 15 and 18).

The spring-biased, trailing or outer (front as viewed in FIG. 13) keeper pawl 191 (FIGS. 13 and 14) is affixed to the front end of a rotatable, elongated, horizontally and transversely extending, rod element 195 (FIGS. 13, 14 and 18). The rod is rotatably positioned in the tubular sleeve member 187, and rotates in the sleeve independently of any rotational movement of the sleeve. The outer end portions of the rod extend axially outwardly beyond the outer end portions of the sleeve.

The inner end of the rod is operatively connected to a friction or roller clutch 202 of the escapement-trip mechanism (FIGS. 13, 15, 17 and 18). A rigid but rotatable lever formed of lever arm 196 and trip arm 198 is operatively connected to the friction clutch 202 and extends radially from the clutch 202 (FIGS. 13, 15, 17 and 18). The outer end of the lever arm 196 has a rearwardly directed, horizontally extending, pawl-actuating finger 197 projecting therefrom, whereas the outer end of the trip arm 198 has a forwardly directed, trip finger 199 (FIGS. 13 and 15).

When that lever (196 and 198) is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction (FIGS. 13 and 17) during the downstroke of the piston, it does not rotate the rod 195 or the trailing pawl 191 which is connected to the rod; however, when that lever is rotated in a clockwise direction during the upstroke, the clutch 202 operates to drive the rod 195 by rotating it, as well as the trailing pawl 191, in a clockwise direction (FIGS. 13 and 17).

The tubular sleeve 187, with the rod 195 rotatably mounted therein, is rotatably mounted in a circular opening in the bushing member 127 (FIGS. 13 and 15) which extends horizontally and transversely across a lower portion of the slidable carriage 123 and is part of the carriage structure, (FIGS. 2, 13 and 15). The front end of the opening in the bushing member 127 communicates with a pawl slot 128 (FIGS. 2, 13 and 14), so that the

pawls

183 and 191 connected at the front end of the sleeve 187 and rod 195, respectively, can rotate operatively therein, for example, during the reciprocating cycle of the piston 47 and attached marking wheel 96 without having such desired rotation obstructed by the carriage structure.

A resilient, wire torsion spring 186 tends to urge the leading keeper pawl 183 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, which pawl rotates in conjunction with not independently of the sleeve 187, to rotate in a counterclockwise direction (FIGS. 13), so that the lower pointer finger 184 (FIG. 14) of that pawl tends to be urged towards or into engagement with the ratchet teeth of the selected ratchet bar 173.

The wire torsion spring 186 (FIG. 14) is wrapped about the outer end of the sleeve 187 intermediate the outer ends of the spring. One end of the spring 186 is biased against the spring-retaining pin which extends to the rear horizontally and outwardly from an upper portion of the leading pawl 183. The other, outer end of the spring 186 is retained in a fixed postion in the spring recess 129 (FIGS. 13 and 14) of the pawl slot 128.

Similarly, a resilient, wire torsion spring 194 tends to urge the trailing keeper pawl 191 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, which pawl rotates in conjunction with not independently of the rod 195, to rotate in a counterclockwise direction (FIGS. 13), so that the lower pointed finger 192 (FIGS. 13 and 14) of that pawl tends to be urged towards or into engagement with the ratchet teeth of the selected ratchet bar 173.

The wire torsion spring 194 (FIG. 13) is wrapped about the outer end of the rod intermediate the outer ends of the spring. One end of the spring 194 is biased against the spring-retaining pin 193 which extends to the front horizontally and outwardly from an upper portion of the trailing pawl 191. The other, outer end of the spring 194 is retained in a fixed position in the spring recess 129 (FIGS. 13 and 14) of the pawl slot 128.

The roller or over-running clutch 202 is shown generally in FIGS. 13 and 15 and in added detail in FIGS. 17 and 18.

The clutch 202 is free-wheeling or disengaged during the downstroke of the reciprocating cycle and is engaged and provides positive drive means during the upstroke.

More specifically, the clutch 202 provides, among other things, means for the lever arm 188 to rotate the sleeve 187 and leading pawl 183 in a clockwise direction (FIG. 13) during the downstroke of the reciprocating cycle without rotating the rod 195 or trailing pawl 191; further, during the downstroke, means are provided which tend to urge the lever arm 196 (as well as the attached trip arm 198) to rotate in a counterclockwise direction (see FIGS. 13 and 17) without causing the rotation of the rod 195 or trailing pawl 191; still further, means are provided for the lever arm 196 to rotate the rod 195 and trailing pawl 191 in a clockwise direction (FIG. 13) during the upstroke without rotating the sleeve 187 or the leading pawl 183.

Referring to FIG. 18, the clutch 202 is secured to the carriage 123 by means of the mounting bracket 215. The bracket 215 is fastened to the rear of the carriage 123 by a screw or bolt 216 and to the stationary, circular, cup-shaped shell 203 of the clutch by a screw or bolt 217. A circular opening at the inner end of the lever arm 188 receives and is securely affixed to a rear end portion of the rotatable sleeve 187 and rotates therewith.

A rear end portion of the rotatable rod 195 is connected to a rotatable, circular, cup-shaped, clutch ring 204 which rotates with the rod and is positioned in the shell 203. A rotatable cam 206 (FIGS. 17 and 19) is positioned in the clutch ring 204. A cylindrical, centrally positioned, front extension of the cam 206 extends into and is rotatably mounted in a centrally-positioned, cylindrical recess 205 of the clutch ring 204 and rod 195. The front extension of the cam can rotate in the recess 205 independently of any rotation of the rod 195.

The cam 206 has a pair of opposed, L-shaped, recessed shoulders 207 positioned about its periphery (FIG. 17). Each of these shoulders has a cylindrical, spring-retaining opening 208 with a resilient, open helical, wire spring 209 retained therein. A rotatable friction roller 210 is positioned and retained in each of the shoulders 207. The spring 209 prevents the roller 210 from idling when the cam 206 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction during the downstroke. Each of the rollers 210 rotate between the shoulder 207 and ring 204 when the lever arm 188 for the leading pawl 183 rotates in a clockwise direction and the cam 206 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction (FIGS. 13 and 18) during the downstroke.

A circular, fixed closure plate 211 is secured to the rear end of the fixed shell 203 and has an opening 212 through which a rear, cylindrical extension of the cam 206 rotatably projects. The inner end of the lever arm 196 and trip arm 198, which is positioned intermediate the outer ends of the lever formed by those arms, has a circular opening for receiving the rear extension of the cam 206 and that extension is securely affixed in that opening.

A resilient, wire torsion spring 214 of the clutch 202 is positioned between the closure plate 211 and the lever (lever arm 196 and trip arm 198) and tends to urge the lever to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction (FIGS. 13 and 17). The torsion spring 214 is wrapped about the rear extension of the cam 206 intermediate the outer ends of the spring. The right, outer end of the torsion spring 214 is securely retained in a fixed position to the closure plate 211 by means of the spring-retaining lug 213 (FIG. 18), whereas th left, outer end of the spring is biased against the upper edge of the lever arm 196 (FIGS. 17 and 18).

When the lever arm 188 which is affixed to the sleeve 187 rotates clockwise (FIG. 13) during the downstroke, the leading pawl 183 rotates in a clockwise direction (FIG. 13). During the downstroke, the spring 214 of the clutch rotates the lever arm 196 (as well as the trip arm 198 extending therefrom) in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 13), and the cam 206 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction, (with the aid of rollers 210) without rotating the rod or trailing pawl 191. The clutch is thus disengaged during the downstroke.

However, when the lever arm 196 (as well as the attached trip arm 198) is rotated in a clockwise direction (FIG. 13) during the upstroke, the cam 206 likewise rotates clockwise; however, the rollers 210 become wedged or locked between their respective shoulder 207 and the clutch ring 204, thereby locking the earn 206 and ring 204 together. This locking action engages the clutch and drives the rod 195 and trailing pawl 191 in a clockwise direction (FIG. 13) without rotating the sleeve 187 or leading pawl 183. During the upstroke, the lever arm 188 of the leading pawl 183 tends to be urged upwards in a counter-clockwise direction (FIG. 13).

The pawl-actuating finger 189 of the lever arm 188 for the leading pawl 183 and the pawl-actuating finger 197 of the lever arm 196 for the trailing pawl 191 are operatively positioned in a channel-shaped, vertically adjustable, reciprocating guide rail 220 of the escapement or trip mechanism as shown in FIGS. 2, l3 and 15.

The adjustable or vertically expandable, reciprocating guide rail 220 includes upper and lower, connected together, adjustable, L-shaped portions. One of the sides of each of the L-shaped portions is positioned in juxtaposed, partly overlapping relationship, so as to provide a common vertical side portion (rear side as viewed in FIG. 13) of the guide rail. A supporting arm 228 extending horizontally and perpendicularly from a lower part of the reciprocating piston 47 attaches the guide rail 220 to the piston 47, whereby the guide rail reciprocates vertically with the piston and marking wheel 96 (FIG. 2). This reciprocating movement of the guide rail 220 actuates, directs or restricts the limits of the upper or lower pivotal or rotational movement of the pawl-actuating

fingers

189 and 197 of the

lever arms

188 and 196 for the leading and trailing

pawls

183 and 191, resectively, and, in turn, the leading and trailing pawls.

The upper L-shaped portion of the guide rail 220 has an upper, elongated, horizontally extending side or ledge 221, and an elongated, vertically extending side 222. The lower, L-shaped portion has a lower, elongated, horizontally extending, side or ledge 226 which is positioned substantially parallel to the upper side or ledge 221, and an elongated vertically extending (rear) side 227 which is positioned in at least partly overlapping contact with the vertical side 222 of the upper, L- shaped portion. The left and right, outer ends of the vertically extending side 222 of the upper portion of the guide rail 220 have rearwardly extending tabs 223 which are connected to the vertical side 222, one of which tabs 223 is shown in FIG. 2.

The vertical side 227 of the lower, L-shaped portion is connected directly to the front of the supporting arm 228. Each of the side tabs 223 of the upper, L-shaped portion are connected to the front end of the horizontally extending, supporting arm 228 which projects from the piston 47, and has a vertically extending slot 224 therein (FIG. 2) which is positioned in alignment with a vertically extending slot positioned at the front end of each of the sides of the supporting arm 228. Screws or bolts 22S extend through each pair of aligned vertical slots and connect the upper, L-shaped portion of the guide rail to the supporting arm 228.

The height of the guide rail 220 as determined by the distance separating the upper or lower horizontal sides or

ledges

221 and 226 of the guide rail may be adjusted, as desired, by loosening the screws or bolts 225 which extend through the slots 224 of each of the side tabs 223 and aligned slots of the supporting arm 228, either raising or lowering, as desired, the upper, L-shaped portion along the height of the aligned vertical slots, and tightening the screws or bolts 225 once the desired spacing between the upper and lower, horizontally extending sides or ledges of the guide rail has been obtained.

The vertical side 227 of the lower, L-shaped portion of the guide rail may be adjustably connected to the front of the supporting arm 228 and may be raised and lowered, as desired, with respect to that arm, as well as the upper, L-shaped portion of the guide rail,

Referring to FIGS. 13, 14 and 19, at the time the downstroke of the reciprocating cycle is to begin, the lever arm 188 of the leading keeper pawl 183 is positioned in an upper position with its pawl-actuating finger 189 positioned near or urged against the upper,

horizontally extending side or ledge 221 of the uppear, *L-shaped portion of the guide rail 220. The lower pointed finger 184 of the leading pawl 183 is urged in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 13) by the tension spring 186 towards or into engagement with the upper inclined surface 175 of a ratchet tooth of the selected ratchet bar 173, and a curved portion at the leading side of that pawl is positioned contiguous and in obstructing relationship to the inclined forward surface 176 of the next adjoining tooth to the left, so that further movement of the carriage 123 to the left by the carriage spring 165 is obstructed temporarily by the leading pawl. Also at that stage, the lower pointed finger 192 of the trailing keeper pawl 191 is urged counter-clockwise (as viewed in FIG. 13) by its tension spring 194 towards or into engagement with the upper inclined surface 175 of the ratchet tooth, but in trailing relationship to and to the right (as viewed in FIG. 13) of the leading pawl.

The shape and position of the leading pawl 183 and shape of the ratchet teeth are such that that pawl can be rotated during the downstroke in a clockwise direction (in the manner herein described) free of being obstructed by the forward inclined surface 176 of said next adjoining tooth.

During the downstroke, the upper, horizontally extending side or ledge 221 of the upper portion of the reciprocating guide rail urges the pawl-actuating finger 189 of the lever arm 188 for the leading pawl 183 to rotate clockwise and downwards, and the sleeve 187 and leading pawl 183 are likewise rotated in a clockwise direction until the lower pointed finger 184 of the leading pawl 183 is raised (FIGS. 19-21). This clockwise rota tion of the leading pawl results in the lower pointed finger 184 of that pawl being rotated ultimately to above the vertical height of the inclined forward surface 176 of said next adjoining tooth, and the carriage spring 165 advancing the carriage 123 and leading and trailing

pawls

183 and 191, respectively, about an one-half increment (about one-half of the overall horizontal length of one ratchet tooth) to the left (in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 13-15 and 19-21).

At the completion of the downstroke, further movement of the carriage 123 to the left is restricted temporarily by the lower pointed finger 192 of the trailing pawl 191 being urged in a counter-clockwise direction by the tension spring 194 towards or into engagement with the upper inclined surface of the ratchet tooth of the selected ratchet bar 173, and a curved portion at the leading side of trailing pawl being urged into contiguous, obstructing relationship with said inclined forward surface 176 of said next adjoining tooth to the left (similar to the position of the leading pawl 183 at the start of the downstroke), so that further movement of the carriage 123 to the left by the carriage spring 165 is restricted temporarily by the trailing pawl (FIG. 22).

When the upstroke of the reciprocating cycle is ready to begin (FIG. 22) so that the carriage 123 can complete the remainder of its single incremental movement to the left, the lever arm 196 for the trailing keeper pawl 19] is positioned in a lower position with its pawlactuating finger 197 urged towards or against the lower, horizontally extending side or ledge 226 of the lower portion of the guide rail 220.

The shape and position of the trailing pawl 191 and shape of the ratchet teeth are such that that pawl can be rotated during the upstroke in a clockwise direction (in the manner herein described) free of being obstructed by the forward inclined surface 176 of said next adjoining tooth. In order to facilitate this clearance of the ratchet teeth by the trailing pawl 191, that pawl should be shaped differently than the leading pawl 183, and, in at least some instances (e.g., depending on the size and shape of the ratchet teeth), it may be desirable or necessary to design the shape of the trailing pawl so that the rod 195 is connected to the pawl at an eccentrically located point or position thereof.

During the upstroke, the lower, horizontally extending side or ledge 226 of the lower portion of the reciprocating guide rail urges the pawl-actuating finger 197 of the lever arm 196 for the trailing pawl 191 to rotate clockwise (as viewed in FIG. 13), the clutch 202 becomes promptly engaged, and the rod 195 and trailing pawl 191 are rotated in a clockwise direction until the lower pointed finger 192 of the trailing pawl 191 is raised (FIG. 23). This clockwise rotation of the trailing pawl results in the lower finger 192 of that pawl being rotated eventually to above the vertical height of the inclined forward surface 176 of said next adjoining tooth (FIG. 24), and the carriage spring 165 advancing the carriage 123 and leading and trailing

pawls

183 and 191, respectively, the remainder of the single increment to the left (about an one-half increment). The lever arm 188 of the leading pawl 183 is urged towards the upper, horizontally extending side or ledge of the guide rail during the upward movement of the guide rail.

At the completion of the upstroke, further movement of the carriage 123 to the left is restricted temporarily by the leading pawl 183 because a curved portion at the leading side of that pawl is urged in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 13) by the spring 186 into contiguous, obstructing relationship with an inclined forward surface 176 of the then next adjoining tooth to the left, so that further movement of the carriage 123 to the left by the carriage spring 165 is obstructed temporarily by the leading pawl (FIG. 24).

The rotational movement of the lever arm 196 causes the elongated, vertically extending lever 233 (FIGS. 2, 13 and 15) which is connected to that lever arm to undergo vertical reciprocating movement. Thus, the vertically extending lever 223 does not prevent the rotation of the lever arm 196 in the manner described above.

Upon completion of one reciprocating cycle, the carriage 123 and bat 20 have moved one full increment to the left.

Therefore, during the reciprocating cycle described above (downstroke and upstroke of the piston 47 and attached marking wheel 96 and guide rail 220), a keeper pawl always coacts with one of the teeth of the selected ratchet bar and allows the carriage to advance in two separate sequential or incremental stages (one stage during the downstroke and the other stage during the up stroke) during the cycle to complete a total ad vancement of only one increment. Upon completion of one reciprocating cycle, the side-by-side pair of springbiased, keeper pawls allow the carriage spring to advance the carriage and bat to the left one increment, a distance which corresponds to the overall length of one ratchet tooth. The bat, which has advanced with the carraige to the left of the marking station during the cycle, and the marking wheel then are ready for the next marking or spacing operation at the right of the immediately preceding marked indicium or alloted blank space.

The escapement mechanism also includes and coacts with a trip mechanism which allows the slidable carriage 123 to be moved selectively in either direction (e.g.. returned to the right after completing the marking of a line on the bat) without causing or using any reciprocating movement of the piston 47 or marking wheel 96. This mechanism disengages both of the pawls I83 and 191 from their coacting obstring relationship or engagement with the teeth of the selected ratchet bar, whereby the pawls no longer limit or control the movement of carriage 123.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 10, 11, I3, 15 and 16, the trip mechanism may be operated by pushing down on the front, free end portion of the elongated pivoted key 231 overhanging the horizontal base portion 133 of the U-shaped bracket 132. This downward movement of the front end of the key 231 causes it to pivot intermediate its outer ends about the horizontally positioned, cylindrical pivot pin 232 (FIGS. 2 and 16) which is mounted to the forked or U-shaped bracket 230 (FIGS. 2 and 16). The forked or U-shapd bracket 230 is mounted to the carriage 123 (FIG. 2). The other, rear end portion of the key 231, which extends through the upper, vertically extending slot 234 (FIGS. 13, 15 and 16) of the elongated, vertically extending lever 233 (FIGS. 2, 13, 15 and I6), is thereby pivoted in an upward position so as to compress the open helical, resilient wire spring 235 (FIGS. 2, 13, 15 and 16) which is connected to the rear end portion of the key 231 and the upper, L-shaped end of the vertically extending lever 233.

This action of the trip mechanism raises the lever 233 in a vertical direction. The lower end of the vertically extending lever 233, which is pivotally connected by a 6 cylindrical pivot pin 236 to the lever arm 196 (FIG. 13), in turn. rotates the connected trip arm 198 in a LII LII

It) to rotate in a clockwise direction (FIG. 13) so as to withdraw the leading pawl 183 from operative relationship with the teeth of the selected ratchet bar.

Thus, the selective depression of the outer free end of the key 231 causes the pair of

pawls

191 and 183,

in that order, to be withdrawn or disengaged from operating or coacting relationship with the teeth of the selected ratchet bar, thereby enabling the operator to move the carriage 123 manually in either direction a desired distance. Mo vement of the carriag eto the Raft is facilitated by the carriage spring 165.

This selective disengagement of both of the

pawls

183 and 191 from the teeth of the selected ratchet bar 173 is maintained by a latch mechanism 240 (FIGS. 1, 2, 10 and 11) until the bolt or latch member 245 thereof (FIG. 11) is released by the operator. The latch mechanism 240 is secured to the horizontal base portion 133 of the bracket 132.

More specifically, the latch mechanism 240 shown in FIG. 11 is similar to spring-controlled latches used commonly on swinging doors. This mechanism includes a casing 241 with an upper elongated slot 242. A vertically extending handle 247 extends through the slot and is connected at its lower end to an elongaged, horizontally extending bolt or latch 245. During the operation of the latch mechanism, the bolt or latch 245 extends through the left and right, spaced-apart openings 243 and 244, respectively, at the outer ends of the easing 241. The right, free end of the bolt or latch 245 terminates in the form of a beveled surface 246. An open helical, resilient, wire latch spring 249 which encircles the left part of the bolt or latch is positioned in the casing 241 between the left end of the casing and an enlarged, circular, spring-retaining portion 248 of the bolt or latch. The latch spring 249 normally tends to urge the bolt or latch 245 to the right and outwardly through the right opening 244 of the casing.

When the front, free end of the key 231 of the escapement mechanism is depressed, as explained above, the key strikes the beveled end 246 of the latch 245, whereby the latch 245 is urged inwardly to the left through the left opening 243 of the casing 241 and the latch spring 249 is compressed. Once the key 231 is depressed to below the beveled end 246 of the latch 245 and is free of the latch, the compressed latch spring 249 urges the latch to the right to its initial extended position and the beveled end of the latch will overhang the key (see broken lines in FIG. 11). This movement allows the trip arm 198 of the lever to stay in its actuated tripping position and both the

pawls

183 and 191 to remain disengaged from and out of obstructing relationship with the teeth of the selected ratchet bar.

In order to release the depressed key 231, the operator need only slide the handle 247 of the latch 245 to the left, thereby freeing the overhanging beveled end of the latch from its overhanging lock position. This allows the compressed resilient spring 235 which is connected to the rear end of the key 231 and upper end of

Claims

1. A marking device having reciprocating, drive shaft means for lowering and raising piston means for carrying marking means for marking a work piece, reciprocating piston means operatively connected to a lower portion of said drive shaft means so that during the reciprocating downstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft means said drive shaft means both actuate said piston means in a reciprocating manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocate to some extent independently of said piston means, said piston means having collar means operatively connected to said piston means and positioned in spaced relationship to an upper portion of said piston means, said collar means having a collar opening for receiving said drive shaft means, said drive shaft means including a vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft and marking regulator means for adjustably controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, said marking regulator means including at least one springbiased, laterally slidable, detent pin for actuating said piston means positioned in said drive shaft, and said detent pin being urged laterally outwardly of said drive shaft to its extended position for actuating said piston means by resilient spring means, being moved inwardly of and through said collar opening when the outer end of said detent pin is so directed during the marking operation, and being moved outwardly to its extended position both below and above at least part of said collar opening by said spring means during the marking operation.

2. The marking device of claim 1, wherein said drive shaft is an adjustable drive shaft so that the length of said drive shaft can be adjusted as desired.

3. A marking device having reciprocating, drive shaft means for lowering and raising piston means for carrying marking means for marking a work piece, reciprocating piston means operatively connected to a lower portion of said drive shaft means so that during the reciprocating downstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft means said drive shaft means both actuate said piston means in a reciprocating manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocate to some extent independently of said piston means, said piston means having collar means operatively connected to said piston means and positioned in spaced relationship to an upper portion of said piston means, said collar means having a collar opening for receiving said drive shaft means, said drive shaft means including a vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft and marking regulator means for adjustably controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, said marking regulator means including a pair of opposed, spring-biased, laterally slidable, detent pins for actuating said piston means positioned in said drive shaft, and said detent pins being urged laterally outwardly of said drive shaft to their extended position for actuating said piston means by resilient spring means, being moved inwardly of and through said collar opening when the outer ends of said detent pins are so directed during the marking operation, and being moved outwardly to their extended position both below and above at least part of said collar opening when the outer ends of said detent pins are so directed during the marking operation, and being moved outwardly to their extended position both below and above at least part of said collar opening by said spring means during the marking operation.

4. The marking device of claim 3, wherein said drive shaft is an adjustable drive shaft so that the length of said drive shaft can be adjusted as desired.

5. A marking device having reciprocating, drive shaft means for lowering and raising piston means for carrying marking means For marking a work piece, reciprocating piston means operatively connected to a lower portion of said drive shaft means so that during the reciprocating downstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft means said drive shaft means both actuate said piston means in a reciprocating manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocate to some extent independently of said piston means, said piston means having collar means operatively connected to said piston means and positioned in spaced relationship to an upper portion of said piston means, said collar means having a collar opening for receiving said drive shaft means, said drive shaft means including a vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft and marking regulator means for adjustably controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, said marking regulator means including a pair of opposed, spring-biased, laterally slidable, detent pins for actuating said piston means positioned in said drive shaft, and said detent pins being urged laterally outwardly of said drive shaft to their extended position for actuating said piston means by resilient spring means positioned between said detent pins, being moved inwardly of and through said collar opening when the outer ends of said detent pins are so directed during the marking operation, and being moved outwardly to their extended position both below and above at least part of said collar opening by said spring means during the marking operation.

6. The marking device of claim 5, wherein said drive shaft is an adjustable drive shaft so that the length of said drive shaft can be adjusted as desired.

7. A marking device having reciprocating, drive shaft means for lowering and raising piston means which carry marking means for marking a work piece, reciprocating piston means operatively connected to a lower portion of said drive shaft means so that during the reciprocating downstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft means said drive shaft means both actuate said piston means in a reciprocating manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocate to some extent independently of said piston means, said piston means having collar means operatively connected to said piston means and positioned in spaced relationship to an upper portion of said piston means, said collar means having a collar opening for receiving said drive shaft means, marking means operatively connected to and carried by said piston means, said drive shaft means including a vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft and marking regulator means for adjustable controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, said marking regulator means including at least one spring-biased, laterally slidable, detent pin for actuating said piston means positioned in said drive shaft, and said detent pin being urged laterally outwardly of said drive shaft to its extended position for actuating said piston means by resilient spring means, being moved inwardly of and through said collar opening when the outer end of said detent pin is so directed during the marking operation, and being moved outwardly to its extended position both below and above at least part of said collar opening by said spring means during the marking operation.

8. The marking device of claim 7, wherein said drive shaft is an adjustable drive shaft so that the length of said drive shaft can be adjusted as desired.

9. A marking device having reciprocating, drive shaft means for lowering and raising piston means which carry marking means for marking a work piece, reciprocating piston means operatively connected to a lower portion of said drive shaft means so that during the reciprocating downstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft means said drive shaft means both actuate said piston means in a reciprocating manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocate to some extent independently of said piston means, sAid piston means having collar means operatively connected to said piston means and positioned in spaced relationship to an upper portion of said piston means, said collar means having a collar opening for receiving said drive shaft means, marking means operatively connected to and carried by said piston means, said drive shaft means including a vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft and marking regulator means for adjustably controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, said marking regulator means including a pair of opposed, spring-biased, laterally slidable, detent pins for actuating said piston means positioned in said drive shaft, and said detent pins being urged laterally outwardly of said drive shaft to their extended position for actuating said piston means by resilient spring means, being moved inwardly of and through said collar opening when the outer ends of said detent pins are so directed during the marking operation, and being moved outwardly to their extended position both below and above at least part of said collar opening by said spring means during the marking operation.

10. The marking device of claim 9, wherein said drive shaft is an adjustable drive shaft so that the length of said drive shaft can be adjusted as desired.

11. A marking device having reciprocating, drive shaft means for lowering and raising piston means which carry marking means for marking a work piece, reciprocating piston means operatively connected to a lower portion of said drive shaft means so that during the reciprocating downstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft means said drive shaft means both actuate said piston means in a reciprocating manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocate to some extent independently of said piston means, said piston means having collar means operatively connected to said piston means and positioned in spaced relationship to an upper portion of said piston means, said collar means having a collar opening for receiving said drive shaft means, marking means operatively connected to and carried by said piston means, said drive shaft means including a vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft and marking regulator means for adjustably controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, said marking regulator means including a pair of opposed, spring-biased, laterally slidable, detent pins for actuating said piston means positioned in said drive shaft, and said detent pins being urged laterally outwardly of said drive shaft to their extended position for actuating said piston means by resilient spring means positioned between said detent pins, being moved inwardly of and through said collar opening by said spring means during the marking operation.

12. The marking device of claim 11, wherein said drive shaft is an adjustable drive shaft so that the length of said drive shaft can be adjusted as desired.

13. A marking device having vertically reciprocating, piston means for carrying marking means for marking a work piece, vertically extending, stationary post means, drive shaft means which include vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means and marking regulator means for adjustably controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, said piston means being slidably mounted to said post means, spring-supporting, cup means mounted to an upper portion of said post means, said cup means supporting resilient spring means therein and having a drive shaft opening positioned at the bottom thereof for receiving said drive shaft, said piston means having collar means positioned above said cup means and positioned in spaced relationship to the top of said piston means, said collar means having a drive sHaft opening therein which is aligned with said drive shaft opening of said cup means and receives said drive shaft, said drive shaft being axially aligned with the drive shaft openings of said collar means and cup means and being operatively connected to said piston means so that during the reciprocating downstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft it both actuates said piston means in a reciprocating manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocates to some extent without causing the reciprocation of said piston means, stop means operatively associated with said piston means which limit the upward stroke thereof, said marking regulator means including at least one spring-biased, laterally slidable, detent pin positioned in said drive shaft, said detent pin being urged laterally outwardly of said drive shaft to its extended position for actuating said piston means by resilient spring means, being moved inwardly when the outer end of said detent pin is so directed during the marking operation, and being moved outwardly during the marking operation to its extended position by said spring means for said detent pin, and said detent pin when in its extended position, serving to actuate said piston means; upon the lowering of said drive shaft, the outer end of said outwardly extended, detent pin is urged against an upper peripheral region which defines said drive shaft opening of said collar means, spring means supported in said cup means is compressed, said outwardly extended, detent pin urges said collar means and piston means downwardly, the further downward stroke of said piston means is limited ultimately by the work piece; when the downward axial movement of said drive shaft is continued to a limited extent, independently of said piston means, said extended detent pin is urged inwardly of and through the drive shaft opening in said collar means until said detent pin is in an extended position below at least part of the drive shaft opening of said collar means, thereby indicating that the selected, controlled or predetermined, substantially reproducible, marking pressure and marking time have been reached, during the upstroke of said drive shaft, the theretofore compressed spring means supported in said cup means urge said drive shaft, collar means and piston means upwardly with said extended detent pin positioned at a lower peripheral region which defines said drive shaft opening of said collar means; and, when the upward movement of said collar means is limited by said stop means and the upward axial movement of said drive shaft is continued to a limited extent, independently of said piston means, said extended detent pin is moved inwardly of and through the drive shaft opening in said collar means until said detent pin is reset above said collar means in its initial extended position.

14. The marking device of claim 13, wherein said drive shaft is an adjustable drive shaft so that the length of said drive shaft can be adjusted as desired.

15. A marking device having vertically reciprocating, piston means for carrying marking means for marking a work piece, vertically extending, stationary post means, drive shaft means which include vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means and marking regulator means for adjustably controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, said piston means being slidably mounted to said post means, spring-supporting, cup means mounted to an upper portion of said post means, said cup means supporting resilient spring means therein and having a drive shaft opening positioned at the bottom thereof for receiving said drive shaft, said piston means having collar means positioned above said cup means and positioned in spaced relationship to the top of said piston means, said collar means having a drive shaft opening therein which is aligned with said drive shaft opening of said cup means and receives Said drive shaft, said drive shaft being axially aligned with the drive shaft openings of said collar means and cup means and being operatively connected to said piston means so that during the reciprocating downstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft it both actuates said piston means in a reciprocating manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocates to some extent without causing the reciprocation of said piston means, stop means operatively associated with said piston means which limit the upward stroke thereof, said marking regulator means including a pair of opposed, spring-biased, laterally slidable, detent pins positioned in said drive shaft, said detent pins being urged laterally outwardly of said drive shaft to their extended position for actuating said piston means by resilient spring means, being moved inwardly when the outer ends off said detent pins are so directed during the marking operation, and being moved outwardly during the marking operation to their extended position for actuating said piston means by said spring means for said detent pins, and said detent pins, when in their extended position, serving to actuate said piston means; upon the lowering of said drive shaft, the outer ends of said outwardly extended detent pins are urged against an upper peripheral region which defines said drive shaft opening of said collar means, said spring means supported in said cup means are compressed, said outwardly extended, detent pins urge said collar means and piston means downwardly, the further downward stroke of said piston means is limited ultimately by the work piece; when the downward axial movement of said drive shaft is continued to a limited extent, independently of said piston means, said extended detent pins are urged inwardly toward each other and inwardly of and through the drive shaft opening in said collar means until said detent pins are in an extended position below at least part of the drive shaft opening of said collar means, thereby indicating that the selected, controlled or predetermined substantially reproducible, marking pressure and marking time have been reached; during the upstroke of said drive shaft, the theretofore compressed spring means supported in said cup means urge said drive shaft, collar means and piston means upwardly with said extended detent pins positioned at a lower peripheral region which defines said drive shaft opening at the bottom of said collar means; and, when the upward movement of said collar means is limited by said stop means and the upward axial movement of said drive shaft is continued to a limited extent, independently of said piston means, said extended detent pins are moved inwardly toward each other and inwardly of and through the drive shaft opening in said collar means until said detent pins are reset above said collar means in their intial extended position.

16. The marking device of claim 15, wherein said drive shaft is an adjustable drive shaft so that the length of said drive shaft can be adjusted as desired.

17. A marking device having vertically reciprocating, piston means for carrying marking means for marking a work piece, vertically extending, stationary post means, drive shaft means which include vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means and marking regulator means for adjustably controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, said piston means being slidably mounted to said post means, spring-supporting, cup means mounted to an upper portion of said post means, said cup means supporting resilient spring means therein and having a drive shaft opening positioned at the bottom thereof for receiving said drive shaft, said piston means having collar means postioned above said cup means and positioned in spaced relationship to the top of said piston means, said collar means having a drive shaft opening therein which is aligned with said drive shaft opening of said cup means and receives said drive shaft, said drive shaft being axially aligned with the drive shaft openings off said collar means and cup means and being operatively connected to said piston means so that during the reciprocating downstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft it both actuates said piston means in a reciprocating manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocates to some extent without causing the reciprocation of said piston means, stop means operatively associated with said piston means which limit the upward stroke thereof, said marking regulator means including a pair of opposed, spring-biased, laterally slidable, detent pins positioned in said drive shaft, said detent pins being urged laterally outwardly of said drive shaft to their extended position for actuating said piston means by resilient spring means positioned between said detent pins, being moved inwardly when the outer ends of said detent pins are so directed during the marking operation, and being moved for actuating said piston means outwardly during the marking operation to their extended position for actuating said piston means by said spring means for said detent pins, and said detent pins, when in their extended position, serving to actuate said piston means; upon the lowering of said drive shaft, the outer ends of said outwardly extended, detent pins are urged against an upper peripheral region which defines said drive shaft opening of said collar means, said spring means supported in said cup means are compressed, said outwardly extended detent pins urge said collar means and piston means downwardly, the further downward stroke of said piston means is limited ultimately by the work piece; when the downward axial movement of said drive shaft is continued to a limited extent, independently of said piston means, said extended detent pins are urged inwardly toward each other and inwardly of and through the drive shaft opening in said collar means until said detent pins are in an extended position below at least part of the drive shaft opening of said collar means, thereby indicating that the selected, controlled or predetermined, substantially reproducible, marking pressure and marking time have been reached; during the upstroke of said drive shaft, theretofore compressed spring means supported in said cup means urge said drive shaft, collar means and piston means upwardly with said extended detent pins positioned at a lower peripheral region which defines said drive shaft opening at the bottom of said collar means; and, when the upward movement of said collar means is limited by said stop means and the upward axial movement of said drive shaft is continued to a limited extent, independently of said piston means, said extended detent pins are moved inwardly toward each other and inwardly of and through the drive shaft opening in said collar means until said detent pins are reset above said collar means in their initial extended position.

18. The marking device of claim 17, wherein said drive shaft is an adjustable drive shaft so that the length of said drive shaft can be adjusted as desired.

19. A marking device having vertically reciprocating, piston means which carry marking means for marking a work piece, vertically extending, stationary post means, said piston means being slidably mounted to said post means, marking means operatively connected to and carried by said piston means, drive shaft means which include vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means and marking regulator means for adjustably controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, spring-supporting, cup means mounted to an upper portion of said post means, said cup means supporting resilient spring means therein and having a drive shaft opening for receiving said drive shaft positioned at the bottom thereof, said piston means having collar means positIoned above said cup means and positioned in spaced relationship to the top of said piston means, said collar means having a drive shaft opening therein which is aligned with said drive shaft opening of said cup means and receives said drive shaft, said drive shaft being axially aligned with the drive shaft openings of said collar means and cup means and being operatively connected to said piston means so that during the reciprocating downstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft it both actuates said piston means in a reciprocating manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocates to some extent without causing the reciprocation of said piston means, stop means operatively associated with said piston means which limit the upward stroke thereof, said marking regulator means including at least one spring-biased, laterally slidable, detent pin positioned in said drive shaft, said detent pin being urged laterally outwardly of said drive shaft to its extended position for actuating said piston means by resilient spring means, being moved inwardly when the outer end of said detent pin is so directed during the marking operation, and being moved outwardly during the marking operation to its extended position by said spring means for said detent pin, and said detent pin, when in its the extended position, serving to actuate said piston mean; upon the lowering of said drive shaft, the outer end of said outwardly extended, detent pin is urged against an upper peripheral region which defines said drive shaft opening of said collar means, said spring means supported in said cup means are compressed, said outwardly extended, detent pin urges said collar means, piston means, and marking means downwardly, the marking means marks the work piece, andd the further downward stroke of said piston means is limited ultimately by the work piece; when the downward axial movement of said drive shaft is continued to a limited extent, independently of said piston means, said extended detent pin is urged inwardly of and through the drive shaft opening in said collar means until said detent pin is in an extended position below at least part of the drive shaft opening of said collar means, thereby indicating that the selected, controlled or predetermined, substantially reproducible, marking pressure and marking time have been reached; during the upstroke of said drive shaft, the theretofore compressed spring means supported in said cup means urge said drive shaft, collar means, piston means and marking means upwardly with said extended detent pin positioned at a lower peripheral region which defines said drive shaft opening of said collar means; and, when the upward movement of said collar means is limited by said stop means and the upward axial movement of said drive shaft is continued to a limited extent, independently of said piston means, said extended detent pin is moved inwardly of and through the drive shaft opening in said collar means until said detent pin is reset above said collar means in its initial extended position.

20. The marking device of claim 19, wherein said drive shaft is an adjustable drive shaft so that the length of said drive shaft can be adjusted as desired.

21. A marking device having vertically reciprocating, piston means which carry marking means for marking a work piece, vertically extending, stationary post means, said piston means being slidably mounted to said post means, marking means operatively connected to and carried by said piston means, drive shaft means which include vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means and marking regulator means for adjustably controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, spring-supporting, cup means mounted to an upper portion of said post means, said cup means supporting resilient spring means therein and having a drive shaft opening for receiving said drive shaft positioned at the Bottom thereof, said piston means having collar means positioned above said cup means and positioned in spaced relationship to the to of said piston means, said collar means having a drive shaft opening therein which is aligned with said drive shaft opening of said cup means and receives said drive shaft, said drive shaft being axially aligned with the drive shaft openings of said collar means and cup means and being operatively connected to said piston means so that during the reciprocating downstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft it both actuates said piston means in a reciprocating manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocates to some extent without causing the reciprocation of said piston means, stop means operatively associated with said piston means which limit the upward stroke thereof, said marking regulator means including a pair of opposed, spring-biased, laterally slidable, detent pins positioned in said drive shaft, said detent pins being urged laterally outwardly of said drive shaft to their extended position for actuating said piston means by resilient spring means, being moved inwardly when the outer ends of said detent pins are so directed during the marking operation, and being moved outwardly during the marking operation to their extended position by said spring means for said detent pins, and said detent pins, when in their extended position, serving to actuate said piston means; for actuating said piston means; upon the lowering of said drive shaft, the outer ends of said outwardly extended, detent pins are urged against an upper peripheral region which defines said drive shaft opening of said collar means, said spring means supported in said cup means are compressed, said outwardly extended detent pins urge said collar means, piston means, and marking means downwardly, the marking means marks the work piece, and the further downward stroke of said piston means is limited ultimately by the work piece; when the downward axial movement of said drive shaft is continued to a limited extent, independently of said piston means, said extended detent pins are urged inwardly toward each other and inwardly of and through the drive shaft opening in said collar means until said detent pins are in an extended position below at least part of the drive shaft opening of said collar means, thereby indicating that the selected, controlled or predetermined, substantially reproducible, marking pressure and marking time have been reached; during the upstroke of said drive shaft, the theretofore compressed spring means supported in said cup means urge said drive shaft, collar means, piston means and marking means upwardly with said extended detent pins positioned at a lower peripheral region which defines said drive shaft opening at the bottom of said collar means; and, when the upward movement of said collar means is limited by said stop means and the upward axial movement of said drive shaft is continued to a limited extent, independently of said piston means, said extended detent pins are moved inwardly toward each other and inwardly of and through the drive shaft opening in said collar means until said detent pins are reset above said collar means in their initial extended position.

22. The marking device of claim 21, wherein said drive shaft is an adjustable drive shaft so that the length of said drive shaft can be adjusted as desired.

23. A marking device having vertically reciprocating, piston means which carry marking means for marking a work piece, vertically extending, stationary post means, said piston means being slidably mounted to said post means, marking means operatively connected to and carried by said piston means, drive shaft means which include vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said position means and marking regulator means for adjustably controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, spring-supporting, Cup means mounted to an upper portion of said post means, said cup means supporting resilient spring means therein and having a drive shaft opening for receiving said drive shaft positioned at the bottom thereof, said piston means having collar means positioned above said cup means and positioned in spaced relationship to the top of said piston means, said collar means having a drive shaft opening therein which is aligned with said drive shaft opening of said cup means and receives said drive shaft, said drive shaft being axially aligned with the drive shaft openings of said collar means and cup means and being operatively connected to said piston means so that during the reciprocating downstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft it both actuates said piston means in a reciprocating manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocates to some extent without causing the reciprocation of said piston means, stop means operatively associated with said piston means which limit the upward stroke thereof, said marking regulator means including a pair of opposed, spring-biased, laterally slidable, detent pins positioned in said drive shaft, said detent pins being urged laterally outwardly of said drive shaft to their extended position for actuating said piston means by resilient spring means positioned between said detent pins, being moved inwardly when the outer ends of said detent pins are so directed during the marking operation, and being moved outwardly during the marking operation by said spring means for said detent pins, and said detent pins, when in their extended position, serving to actuate said piston means to their extended position for actuating said piston means; upon the lowering of said drive shaft, the outer ends of said outwardly extended, detent pins are urged against an upper peripheral region which defines said drive shaft opening of said collar means, said spring means supported in said cup means are compressed, said outwardly extended detent pins urge said collar means, piston means, and marking means downwardly, the marking means marks the work piece, and the further downward stroke of said piston means is limited ultimately by the work piece; when the downward axial movement of said drive shaft is continued to a limited extent, independently of said piston means, said extended detent pins are urged inwardly toward each other and inwardly of and through the drive shaft opening in said collar means until said detent pins are in an extended position below at least part of the drive shaft opening of said collar means, thereby indicating that the selected, controlled or predetermined, substantially reproducible, marking pressure and marking time have been reached; during the upstroke of said drive shaft, the theretofore compressed spring means supported in said cup means urge said drive shaft, collar means, piston means and marking means upwardly with said extended detent pins positioned at a lower peripheral region which defines said drive shaft opening at the bottom of said collar means; and, when the upward movement of said collar means is limited by said stop means and the upward axial movement of said drive shaft is continued to a limited extent, independently of said piston means, said extended detent pins are moved inwardly toward each other and inwardly of and through the drive shaft opening in said collar means until said detent pins are reset above said collar means in their initial extended position.

24. The marking device of claim 23, wherein said drive shaft in an adjustable drive shaft so that the length of said drive shaft can be adjusted as desired.

25. Rotatable marking means for marking a work piece having elongated, tubular casing means, a marking wheel connected to one end of said casing means, turning means for selectively rotating said marking wheel, electrically heatable, raised marking indicia positioned about the outer periphery of said marking wheel, coiled tubular means positioned within said marking wheel to direct heat tO said marking indicia, said tubular means having therein a resistance-type, wire heating element at least in part surrounded by dielectric insulating material which in turn is at least in part surrounded by said tubular means, each of the two ends of said wire heating element being operatively connected to an insulated conductor wire to complete the electrical circuit through the pair of conductor wires and said wire heating element, said conductor wires being positioned together in side-by-side relationship and being spirally coiled in that relationship within said casing means and extending to and outwardly through an opening of said casing means, said spiral coil reducing mechanical strain placed on said conductor wires and the connection of said conductor wires and wire heating element during rotation of said marking wheel, and said opening of said casing means being of sufficient size to allow said marking wheel to be rotated without twisting said conductor wires within said casing means the same degree of rotation.

26. The rotatable marking means of claim 25, wherein said conductor wires extend outwardly beyond the casing means to variable transformer means which control the operating voltage and heat supplied from said wire heating element to said marking indicia.

27. The rotatable marking means of claim 25, wherein said casing means has heat-insulating means positioned therein.

28. The rotatable marking means of claim 25, wherein said marking indicia include a repetition of the same characters.

29. Rotatable marking means for marking a work piece having elongated, tubular casing means, a marking wheel connected to one end of said casing means, turning means for selectively rotating said marking wheel, electrically heatable, raised marking indicia positioned about the outer periphery of said marking wheel, coiled tubular means positioned within said marking wheel to direct heat to said marking indicia, said tubular means having therein a resistance-type, wire heating element at least in part surrounded by dieelectric insulating material which in turn is at least in part surrounded by said tubular means, each of the two ends of said wire heating element being operatively connected to an insulated conductor wire to complete the electrical circuit through the pair of conductor wires and said wire heating element, said conductor wires being positioned together in side-by-side relationship and being spirally coiled in that relationship within said casing means and extending to and outwardly through an opening at the other end of said casing means, said spiral coil reducing mechanical strain placed on said conductor wires and the connection of said conductor wires and wire heating element during rotation of said marking wheel and casing means, and said opening of said casing means being sufficiently larger than said conductor wires to allow said marking wheel and casing means to be rotated together without twisting said conductor wires within said casing means the same degree of rotation.

30. The rotatable marking means of claim 29, wherein said conductor wires extend outwardly beyond the casing means to variable transformer means which control the operating voltage and heat supplied from said wire heating element to said marking indicia.

31. The rotatable marking means of claim 29, wherein said casing means has heat-insulating means positioned therein.

32. A marking device having selectively rotatable, horizontally extending, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to supporting means, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said supporting means and horizontally projecting therefrom, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, a rotatable, heatable marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said rotatable casing means and positioned directly above the work piece to be marked, said marking wheel and casing means being rotatable in the same direction and at the same time anD having horizontal axes of rotation lying in a common plane, a plurality of raised, heatable marking indicia positioned about the periphery of said marking wheel and which are heatable at the same time, vertically reciprocating means to bring the work piece and selected, heated marking indicia into heated marking contact with each other during the marking operation of the vertically reciprocating, marking cycle, internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means connected to and positioned in said rotatable marking wheel and rotatable therewith and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicia at the same time during the entire vertically reciprocating, marking cycle, and said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said supporting means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said supporting means.

33. The marking device of claim 32, wherein said heating means include a resistence-type, wire heating element, and adjustable marking regulator means operatively associated with said vertically reciprocating means for controlling or reproducibly regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece by the heated marking wheel during their marking contact.

34. The marking device of claim 32, wherein stop means limit the rotational movement of said marking wheel to not more than about one complete rotation either clockwise or counter-clockwise, and adjustable marking regulator means operatively associated with said vertically reciprocating means for controlling or reproducibly regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece by the heated marking wheel during their marking contact.

35. The marking device of claim 32, wherein said heating means direct heat to all of the marking indicia at the same time during the entire reciprocating marking cycle, said marking wheel is rotatable together, as well as at the same time, with said casing means, adjustable marking regulator means operatively associated with said vertically reciprocating means for controlling or reproducibly regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece by the heated marking wheel during the marking operation, and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

36. A marking device having vertically reciprocating, piston means which carry marking means to and away from a work piece to be marked, selectively rotatable, marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, a rotatable heatable marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said casing means, raised marking indicia positioned about the outer periphery of said marking wheel, electrical heating means for directing heat to said marking indicia, said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for the dissipation of a substantial level of heat from said marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are mounted to said piston means, turning means for selectively rotating said marking wheel, coiled tubular means positioned within said marking wheel to direct heat to said marking indicia, said tubular means having therein a resistance-type, wire heating element at least in part surrounded by dielectric insulating material which in turn is at least in part surrounded by said tubular means, each of the two ends of said wire heating element being operatively connected to an insulated conductor wire to complete the electrical circuit through the pair of conductor wires and said wire heating element, said conductor wires being positioned together in side-by-side relationship anD being spirally coiled in that relationship within said casing means and extending to and outwardly through an opening of said casing means, said spiral coil reducing mechanical strain placed on said conductor wires and the connection of said conductor wires and wire heating element during rotation of said marking wheel, and said opening of said casing means being sufficiently larger than said conductor wires to allow said marking wheel to be rotated without twisting said conductor wires within said casing means the same degree of rotation.

37. The marking device of claim 36, wherein said conductor wires extend outwardly beyond the casing means to variable transformer means which control the operating voltage and heat supplied form said wire heating element to said marking indicia.

38. The marking device of claim 36, wherein said casing means has heat-insulating mean positioned therein.

39. The marking device of claim 36, wherein said casing means is rotatably mounted to said piston means and said marking wheel is rotatable with said casing means.

40. The marking device of claim 36, wherein said wire heating element directs heat to all of the marking indicia at the same time and during both the downstroke and upstroke of the reciprocating cycle of said reciprocating piston means and rotatable marking wheel.

41. A marking device having vertically reciprocating, piston means which carry horizontally extending, marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating marking cycle, selectively rotatable, horizontally extending, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means, drive shaft means which include vertically extending, reciprocating, drive shaft means which include a vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively as well as slidably connected to an upper portion of said piston means by adjustable interconnecting-drive means which selectively provide either a slidable or a positive drive connection between said drive shaft and piston means, so that during both the vertically reciprocating downstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft, said drive shaft both actuates said piston means in a reciprocating and positive drive manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocates vertically alone to some controllable but limited extent independently both to and away from the work piece and without reciprocating, positive drive movement of said piston means, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, a rotatable, heatable marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said rotatable casing means, said marking wheel and casing means being rotatable in the same direction and at the same time and having horizontal axes of rotation lying in a common plane, a plurality of raised marking indicia positioned about the periphery of said marking wheel and which are heatable at the same time, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means connected to and positioned in said rotable marking wheel and rotatable therewith and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicia at the same time during the entire vertically reciprocating, marking cycle, and said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston mean being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means.

42. The marking device of claim 41, wherein said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element, and said interconnecting-drive means and drive shaft means include adjustable marking regulator means operatively associated with said vertically reciprocating marking mEans for controlling or reproducibly regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece by the heated marking wheel during the marking operation.

43. The marking ddevice of claim 41, wherein stop means limit the rotational movement of said marking wheel to not more than about one complete rotation either clockwise or counter-clockwise, and said interconnecting-drive means and drive shaft means include adjustable marking regulator means operatively associated with said vertically reciprocating, marking means for controlling or reproducibly regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece by the heated marking wheel during the marking operation.

44. The marking device of claim 41, wherein said heating means direct heat to all of the marking indicia at the same time during the entire reciprocating marking cycle of said reciprocating piston means and rotatable marking wheel, said marking wheel is rotatable together, as well as at the same time, with said casing means, said interconnecting-drive means and drive shaft means include adjustable marking regulator means operatively associated with said vertically reciprocating, marking means for controlling or reproducibly regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece by the heated marking wheel during the marking operation, and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

45. A marking device having vertically reciprocating, piston means which carry marking means to and away from a work piece to be marked, selectively rotatable, marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means, drive shaft means which include a vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means so that during the reciprocating downstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft it both actuates said piston means in a reciprocating manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocates to some extent independently of said piston means, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, a rotatable marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said casing means, raised marking indicia positioned about the periphery of said marking wheel, heating means for directing heat to said marking indicia, said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for the dissipation of a substantial level of heat from said marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are mounted to said piston means, said drive shaft means including marking regulator means for adjustably controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, said marking regulator means including at least one spring-biased, laterally slidable, detent pin for actuating said piston means positioned in said drive shaft, and said detent pin being urged laterally outwardly of said drive shaft to its extended position for actuating said piston means by resilient spring means, being moved inwardly when the outer end of said detent pin is so directed during the marking operation, and being moved outwardly to its extended position by said spring means during the marking operation.

46. The marking device of claim 45, wherein said marking indicia include a repetition of the same characters and said heating means include controllable, electrically induced, heating means which can be adjusted as desired to apply a selected level of heat to said marking indicia.

47. The marking device of claim 45, wherein stop means limit the rotational movement of said marking wheel.

48. A marking device having vertically reciprocating, piston means which carry marking means to and away from a work piece to be marked, selectively rotatable, marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means, drive shaft means whicH include a vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means so that during the reciprocating downstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft it both actuates said piston means in a reciprocating manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocates to some extent independently of said piston means, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, a rotatable marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said casing means, raised marking indicia positioned about the periphery of said marking wheel, heating means for directing heat to said marking indicia, said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for the dissipation of a substantial level of heat from said marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are mounted to said piston means, said drive shaft means including marking regulator means for adjustably controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, said marking regulator means including a pair of opposed, spring-biased, laterally slidable, detent pins for actuating said piston means positioned in said drive shaft, and said detent pins being urged laterally outwardly of said drive shaft to their extended position for actuating said piston means by resilient spring means, being moved inwardly when the outer ends of said detent pins are so directed during the marking operation, and being moved outwardly to their extended position by said spring means during the marking operation.

49. The marking device of claim 48, wherein said marking indicia include a repetition of the same characters and said heating means include controllable, electrically induced, heating means which can be adjusted as desired to apply a selected level of heat to said marking indicia.

50. The marking device of claim 48, wherein stop means limit the rotational movement of said marking wheel.

51. A marking device having vertically reciprocating, piston means which carry marking means to and away from a work piece to be marked, selectively rotatable, marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means, drive shaft means which include a vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means so that during the reciprocating downwstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft it both actuates said piston means in a reciprocating manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocates to some extent independently of said piston means, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, a rotatable marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said casing means, raised marking indicia positioned about the periphery of said marking wheel, heating means for directing heat to said marking indicia, said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for the dissipation of a substantial level of heat from said marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are mounted to said piston means, said drive shaft means including regulator means for adjustably controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, said marking regulator means including a pair of opposed, springbiased, laterally slidable, detent pins for actuating said piston means positioned in said drive shaft, and said detent pins being urged laterally outwardly of said drive shaft to their extended position for actuating said piston means by resilient spring means positioned between said detent pins, being moved inwardly when the outer ends of said detent pins are so directed during the marking operation, and being moved outwardly to their extended position by said spring means during the marking operation.

52. The marking device of claim 51, wherein said marking indicia include a repetition of the same characters and said heating means include controllable, electrically induced, heating means which can be adjusted as desired to apply a selected level of heat to said marking indicia.

53. The marking device of claim 51, wherein stop means limit the rotational movement of said marking wheel.

54. A marking device having vertically reciprocating, piston means which carry marking means for marking a work piece, vertically extending, stationary post means, said piston means being slidably mounted to said post means, selectively rotatable, marking means rotatably mounted to and carried by said piston means, drive shaft means which include vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means and marking regulator means for adjustably controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, a rotatable marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said casing means, raised marking indicia positioned about the periphery of said marking wheel, heating means for directing heat to said marking indicia, said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for the dissipation of a substantial level of heat from said marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are mounted to said piston means, spring-supporting, cup means mounted to an upper portion of said post means, said cup means supporting resilient spring means therein and having a drive shaft opening positioned at the bottom thereof for receiving said drive shaft, said piston means having collar means positioned above said cup means and positioned in spaced relationship to the top of said piston means, said collar means having a drive shaft opening therein which is aligned with said drive shaft opening of said cup means and receives said drive shaft, said drive shaft being axially aligned with the drive shaft openings of said collar means and cup means and being operatively connected to said piston means so that during the reciprocating downwstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft it both actuates said piston means in a reciprocating manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocates to some extend independently of said piston means, stop means operatively associated with said piston means which limit the upward stroke thereof, said marking regulator means including at least one spring-biased, laterally slidable, detent pin positioned in said drive shaft, said detent pin being urged laterally outwardly of said drive shaft to its extended position for actuating said piston means by resilient spring means, being moved inwardly when the outer end of said detent pin is so directed during the marking operation, and being moved outwardly during the marking operation to its extended position by said spring means for said detent pin during the marking operation, and said detent pin, when in its extended position, serving to actuate said piston means.

55. The marking device of claim 54, wherein said marking indicia include a repetition of the same characters and said heating means include controllable, electrically induded, heating means which can be adjusted as desired to apply a selected level of heat to said marking indicia.

56. The marking device of claim 54, wherein sto means limit the rotational movement of said marking wheel.

57. A marking device having vertically reciprocating, piston means which carry marking means for marking a work piece, vertically extending, stationary post means, said piston means being slidably mounted to said pOst means, selectively rotatable, marking means rotatably mounted to and carried by said piston means, drive shaft means which include vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means and marking regulator means for adjustably controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, a rotatable marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said casing means, raised marking indicia positioned about the periphery of said marking wheel, heating means for directing heat to said marking indicia, said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for the dissipation of a substantial level of heat from said marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are mounted to said piston means, spring-supporting, cup means mounted to an upper portion of said post means, said cup means supporting resilient spring means therein and having a drive shaft opening positioned at the bottom thereof for receiving said drive shaft, said piston means having collar means positioned above said cup means and positioned in spaced relationship to the top of said piston means, said collar means having a drive shaft opening therein which is aligned with the drive shaft opening of said cup means and receives said drive shaft, said drive shaft being axially aligned with the drive shaft openings of said collar means and cup means and being operatively connected to said piston means so that during the reciprocating downstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft it both actuates said piston means in a reciprocating manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocates to some extent without causing the reciprocation of said piston means, stop means operatively associated with said piston means which limit the upward stroke thereof, said marking regulator means including a pair of opposed, spring-biased, laterally slidable, detent pins positioned in said drive shaft, said detent pins being urged laterally outwardly of said drive shaft to their extended position for actuating said piston means by resilient spring means, being moved inwardly when the outer ends of said detent pins are so directed during the marking operation, and being moved outwardly during the marking operation to their extended position for actuating said piston means by said spring means for said detent pins, and said detent pins, when in their extended position, serving to actuate said piston means.

58. The marking device of claim 57, wherein said marking indicia include a repetition of the same characters and said heating means include controllable, electrically induced, heating means which can be adjusted as desired to apply a selected level of heat to said marking indicia.

59. The marking device of claim 57, wherein stop means limit the rotational movement of said marking wheel.

60. A marking device having vertically reciprocating, piston means which carry marking means for marking a work piece, vertically extending, stationary post means, said piston means being slidably mounted to said post means, selectively rotatable, marking means rotatably mounted to and carried by said piston means, drive shaft means which include vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means and marking regulator means for adjustably controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, a rotatable marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said casing means, raised marking indicia positioned about the periphery of said marking whEel, electrical heating means for directing heat to said marking indicia, said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for the dissipation of a substantial level of heat from said marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are mounted to said piston means, turning means for selectively rotating said marking wheel and casing means, coiled tubular means positioned within said marking wheel to direct heat to said marking indicia, said tubular means having therein a resistance-type, wire heating element at least in part surrounded by dielectric insulating material which in turn is at least in part surrounded by said tubular means, each of the two ends of said wire heating element being operatively connected to an insulated conductor wire to complete the electrical circuit through the pair of conductor wires and said wire heating element, said conductor wires being positioned together in side-by-side relationship and being spirally coiled in that relationship within said casing means and extending to and outwardly through an opening of said casing means, said spiral coil reducing mechanical strain placed on said conductor wires and the connection of said conductor wires and wire heating element during rotation of said marking wheel and casing means, said opening of said casing means being sufficiently larger than said conductor wires to allow said marking wheel and casing means to be rotated together without twisting said conductor wires within said casing means the same degree of rotation, spring-supporting, cup means mounted to an upper portion of said post means, said cup means supporting resilient spring means therein and having a drive shaft opening positioned at the bottom thereof for receiving said drive shaft, said piston means having collar means positioned above said cup means and positioned in spaced relationship to an upper portion of said piston means, said collar means having a drive shaft opening therein which is aligned with the said drive shaft opening of said cup means and receives said drive shaft, said drive shaft being axially aligned with the drive shaft openings of said collar means and cup means and being operatively connected to said piston means so that during the reciprocating downwstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft it both actuates said piston means in a reciprocating manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocates in some extent without causing the reciprocation of said piston means, stop means operatively associated with said piston means which limit the upward stroke thereof, said marking regulator means including a pair of opposed, spring-biased, laterally slidable, detent pins positioned in said drive shaft, said detent pins being urged laterally outwardly of said drive shaft to their extended position for actuating said piston means by resilient spring means, being moved inwardly when the outer ends of said detent pins are so directed during the marking operation, and being moved outwardly during the marking operation to their extended position for actuating said piston means by said spring means for said detent pins, and said detent pins, when in their extended position, serving to actuate said piston means.

61. The marking device of claim 60, wherein said conductor wires extend outwardly beyond the casing means to variable transformer means which control the operating voltage and heat supplied from said wire heating element to said marking indicia.

62. The marking device of claim 60, wherein said casing means has heat-insulating means positioned therein.

63. The marking device of claim 60, wherein said marking indicia include a repetition of the same character.

64. A marking device having vertically reciprocating, piston means which carry marking means for marking a work piece, vertically extending, stationary post means, said piston means being slidably mounted to said post means, selEctively rotatable, marking means rotatably mounted to and carried by said piston means, drive shaft means which include vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means and making regulator means for adjustably controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, a rotatble marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said casing means, raising marking indicia positioned about the periphery of said marking wheel, heating means for directing heat to said marking indicia, said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for the dissipation of a substantial level of heat from said marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are mounted to said piston means, spring-supporting, cup means mounted to an upper portion of said post means said cup means supporting resilient spring means therein and having a drive shaft opening positioned at the bottom thereof for receiving said drive shaft, said piston means having collar means positioned above said cup means and positioned in sapced relationship to the top of said piston means, said collar means having a drive shaft opening therein which is aligned with said drive shaft opening of said cup means and receives said drive shaft, said drive shaft being axially aligned with the drive shaft openings of said collar means and cup means and being operatively connected to said piston means so that during the reciprocating downwstroke and upstroke of said drive shaft it both actuates said piston means in a reciprocating manner and after so actuating said piston means reciprocates to some extent without causing the reciprocation of said piston means, stop means operatively associated with said piston means which limit the upward stroke thereof, said marking regulator means including a pair of opposed, spring-biased, laterally slidable, detent pins positioned in said drive shaft, said detent pins being urged laterally outwardly of said drive shaft to their extended position for actuating said piston means by resilient spring means positioned between said detent pins, being moved inwardly when the outer ends of said detent pins are so directed during the marking operation, and being moved during the marking operation outwardly to their extended position by said spring means for said detent pins, and said detent pins, when in their extended position, serving to actuate said piston means.

65. The marking device of claim 64, wherein said marking indicia include a repetition of the same characters and said heating means include controllable, electrically induced, heating means which can be adjusted as desired tO apply a selected level of heat to said marking indicia.

66. The marking device of claim 64, wherein stop means limit the rotational movement of said marking wheel.

67. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation having vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston means slidably mounted to said post means and which selectively carry horizontally extending, marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, rotatable, horizontally extending, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted tosaid piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, a rotatable, heatable marking member connected tO a projecting portion of said rotatable casing means, said marking member and casing means being rotatable in the same direction and at the same time and having horizontAl axes of rotation lying in a common plane, marking indicium positioned on said marking member, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means connected to and positioned in said rotatable marking member and rotatable therewith and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicium during the entire vertically reciprocating, marking cycle, and said marking member and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicium to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means.

68. The marking device of claim 67, wherein said marking member is rotatable together, as well as at the same time, with said casing means adjustable marking regulator means operatively associated with said vertically reciprocating, marking means for controlling or reproducibly regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece by the heated marking member during the marking operation, said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

69. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation having vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston means slidably mounted to said post means and which selectively carry horizontally extending, marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, rotatable, horizontally extending, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, conductor means positioned in said casing means, a rotatable, heatable marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said rotatable casing means, said marking wheel and casing means being rotatable in the same direction and at the same tIme and having horizontal axes of rotation lying in a common plane, a plurality of marking indicia positioned on the periphery of said marking wheel and which are heatable at the same time, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means connected to and positioned in said rotatable marking wheel and rotatable therewith and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicia at the same time during the entire vertically reciprocating, marking cycle, and said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means.

70. The marking device of claim 69, wherein said marking wheel is rotatable together, as well as at the same time, with said casing means and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

71. The marking device of claim 69, wherein said heating means direct heat to all of the marking indicia at the same time during the entire reciprocating marking cycle of said reciprocating piston means and rotatable marking wheel, and adjustable marking regulator means operatively associated with said vertically reciprocating, marking means for controlling or reproducibly regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece by the heated marking wheel during the marking opertion.

72. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation having vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston means slidably mounted to said post means and which selectively carry marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, a rotatable, heatable marking member connected to a projecting portion of said casing means, marking indicium positioned on said marking member, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means positioned in said marking member and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicium during the entire reciprocating marking cycle, said marking member and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicium to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means, vertically extending, and reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means and marking regulator means having spring means for controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation.

73. The marking device of claim 72, wherein said marking member is rotatable together with said casing means and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

74. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation having vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston means slidably mounted to said post means and which selectively carry marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, a rotatable, heatable marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said casing means, marking indicia positioned on the periphery of said marking wheel, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means positioned in said marking wheel and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicia at the same time during the entire reciprocating marking cycle, said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means, and vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means and marking regulator means having spring means for controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation.

75. The marking device of claim 74, wherein said marking member is rotatable together with said casing means and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

76. The marking device of claim 74, wherein said heating means direct heat to all of the marking indicia at the same time during the entire reciprocating marking cycle of said reciprocating piston means and rotatable marking wheel.

77. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation and advancing it in a controlled manner having vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston means slidably mounted to said post means and which selectively carry horizontally extending, marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, rotaTable, horizontally extending, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, a rotatable, heatable marking member connected to a projecting portion of said rotatable casing means, said marking member and casing means being rotatable in the same direction and at the same time and having horizontal axes of rotation lying in a common plane, marking indicium positioned on said marking member, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means connected to and positioned in said rotatable marking member and rotatable therewith and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicium during the entire vertically reciprocating, marking cycle, said marking member and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicium to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means, and horizontally movable, substantially flat, synchronized, supporting means which carry thereabove work pieces horizontally and in a straight path to and from and directly below the vertically reciprocating path of said piston means in a synchronized, rigidly supportable manner so that said rotatable marking member can mark the individualy, supported work pieces when said heated marking member is lowered to the individual work pieces.

78. The marking device of claim 77, wherein said marking member is rotatable together, as well as at the same time, with said casing means and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element, and adjustable marking regulator means operatively associated with said vertically reciprocating, marking means for controlling or reproducibly regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece by the heated marking member during the marking operation.

79. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation and advancing it in a controlled manner having vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston means slidably mounted to said post means and which selectively carry horizontally extending, marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, rotatable, horizontally extending, recirpocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, a rotatable, heatable marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said rotatable casing means, said marking wheel and casing means being rotatable in the same direction and at the same time and having horizontal axes of rotation lying in a common plane, a plurality of marking indicia positioned on the periphery of said marking wheel and which are heatable at the same time, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means connected to and positioned in said rotatable marking wheel and rotatable therewith and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicia at the same time during the entire vertically reciprocating, marking cycle, said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means, and horizontally movable, substantially flat, synchronized, sUpporting means which carry thereabove work pieces horizontally and in a straight path to and from and directly below the vertically reciprocating path of said piston means in a synchronized, rigidly supportable manner so that said rotatable marking wheel can mark the individual, supported work pieces when said heated marking wheel is lowered to the individual work pieces.

80. The marking device of claim 79, wherein said heating means direct heat to all of the marking indicia at the same time during the entire reciprocating marking cycle of said reciprocating piston means and rotatable marking wheel, and adjustable marking regulator means operatively associated with said vertically reciprocating, marking means for controlling or reproducibly regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece by the heated marking wheel during the marking operation.

81. The marking device of claim 79, wherein said marking wheel is rotatable together, as well as at the same time, with said casing means and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

82. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation and advancing it in a controlled manner having vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston means slidably mounted to said post means and which selectively carry marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, a rotatable, heatable marking member connected to a projecting portion of said casing means, marking indicium positioned on said marking member, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means positioned in said marking member and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicium during the entire reciprocating marking cycle, said marking member and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicium to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means, vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means and marking regulator means having spring means for controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, and movable, substantially planar, supporting means which carry thereabove a work piece horizontally to and from and below the vertically reciprocating path of said piston means so that said marking member can mark the work piece when said marking means are lowered.

83. The marking device of claim 82, wherein said marking member is rotatable together with said casing means and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

84. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation and advancing it in a controlled manner having vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston means slidably mounted to said post means and which selectively carry marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, a rotatable, heatable marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said marking wheel, aNd internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means positioned in said marking wheel and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicia at the same time during the entire reciprocating marking cycle, said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means, vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means and marking regulator means having spring means for controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation, and movable, substantially planar, supporting means which carry thereabove a work piece horizontally to and from and below the vertically reciprocating path of said piston means so that said marking wheel can mark the work piece when said marking wheel is lowered.

85. The marking device of claim 84, wherein said heating means direct heat to all of the marking indicia at the same time during the entire reciprocating marking cycle of said reciprocating piston means and rotatable marking wheel.

86. The marking device of claim 84, wherein said marking wheel is rotatable together with said casing means and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

87. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation and advancing it in a controlled, step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidably carriage means, carriage means slidably mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece during the marking operation, means operatively connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance subject to release means which restrict the movement of said carriage means and allow said carriage means to advance in a controlled, step-wise, incremental manner as a result of each marking operation, vertically reciprocating, piston means which selectively carry horizontally extending, marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, rotatable, horizontally extending, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, a rotatable, heatable marking member connected to a projecting portion of said rotatable casing means, said marking member and casing means being rotatable in the same direction and at the same time and having horizontal axes of rotation lying in a common plane, marking indicium positioned on said marking member, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means connected to and positioned in said rotatable marking member and rotatable therewith and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicium during the entire vertically reciprocating, marking cycle, and said marking member and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicium to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means.

88. The marking device of claim 87, wherein said marking member is rotatable together, as well as at the same time, with said casing means, adjustable marking regulator means operatively associated with said vertically reciprocating, marking means for controlling or reproducibly regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece by the heated markiNg member during the marking operation, and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

89. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation and advancing it in a controlled, step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidable carriage means, carriage means slidably mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece during the marking operation, means operatively connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance subject to release means which restrict the movement of said carriage means and allow said carriage means to advance in a controlled, step-wise, incremental manner as a result of each marking operation, vertically reciprocating, piston means which selectively carry horizontally extending, marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, rotatable, horizontally extending, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, a rotatable, heatable marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said rotatable casing means, said marking wheel and casing means being rotatable in the same direction and at the same time and having horizontal axes of rotation lying in a common plane, a plurality of marking indicia positioned on the periphery of said marking wheel and which are heatable at the same time, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means connected to and positioned in said rotatable marking wheel and rotatable therewith and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicia at the same time during the entire vertically reciprocating, marking cycle, and said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means.

90. The marking device of claim 89, wherein said heating means direct heat to all of the marking indicia at the same time during the entire reciprocating marking cycle of said reciprocating piston means and rotatable marking wheel, and adjustable marking regulator means operatively associated with said reciprocating marking means for controlling or reproducibly regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece by the heated marking wheel during the marking operation.

91. The marking device of claim 89, wherein said marking wheel is rotatable together, as well as at the same time, with said casing means and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

92. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation and advancing it in a controlled, step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidable carriage means, carriage means slidably mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece during the marking operation, means operatively connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance subject to release means which restrict the movement of said carriage means and allow said carriage means to advance in a controlled, stepwise manner as a result of the marking operation, vertically reciprocating, piston means which selectively carry marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrOm, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, a rotatable heatable marking member connected to a projecting portion of said casing means, marking indicium positioned on said marking member, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means positioned in said marking member and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicium during the entire reciprocating marking cycle, said marking member and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicium to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means, and vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means and marking regulator means having spring means for controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation.

93. The marking device of claim 92, wherein said marking member is rotatable together with said casing means and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

94. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation and advancing it in a controlled, step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidable carriage means, carriage means slidably mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece during the marking operation, means operatively connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance subject to release means which restrict the movement of said carriage means and allow said carriage means to advance in a controlled, step-wise manner as a result of the marking operation, vertically reciprocating, piston means which selectively carry marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to marked during the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, a rotatable, heatable marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said casing means, marking indicia positioned on the periphery of said marking wheel, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means positioned in said marking wheel and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicia at the same time during the entire reciprocating marking cycle, said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means, and vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means and marking regulator means having spring means for controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation.

95. The marking device of claim 94, wherein said heating means direct heat to all of the marking indicia at the same time during the entire reciprocating marking cycle of said reciprocating piston means and rotatable marking wheel.

96. The marking device of claim 94, wherein said marking wheel is rotatable together with said casing means and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

97. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation and advancing it in a controlled, step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidable carriage means, elongated ratchet means having upwardly extending tEeth, carriage means slidably mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece during the marking operation, spring means connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance subject to the coaction of keeper pawl means with said ratchet means and as a result of the reciprocating marking operation, rotatable, keeper pawl means which are operatively connected to said carriage means and are positioned above and selectively rotate to coact with said teeth to restrict the movement of said carriage means and allow said spring means for said carriage means to advance said carriage means in a controlled, stepwise, incremental manner as a result of each marking operation, vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston means slidably mounted to said post means and which selectively carry horizontally extending, marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, rotatable, horizontally extending, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, a rotatable, heatable marking member connected to a projecting portion of said rotatable casing means, said marking member and casing means being rotatable in the same direction and at the same time and having horizontal axes of rotation lying in a common plane, marking indicium positioned on said marking member, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means connected to and positioned in said rotatable marking member and rotatable therewith and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicium during the entire vertically reciprocating, marking cycle, and said marking member and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicium to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means.

98. The marking device of claim 97, wherein said marking member is rotatable together, as well as at the same time, with said casing means, adjustable marking regulator means operatively associated with said reciprocating, marking means for controlling or reproducibly regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece by the heated marking member during the marking operation, and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

99. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation and advancing it in a controlled, step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidable carriage means, elongated ratchet means having upwardly extending teeth, carriage means slidably mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece during the marking operation, spring means connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance subject to the coaction of keeper pawl means with said ratchet means and as a result of the reciprocating marking operation, rotatable, keeper pawl means which are operatively connected to said carriage means and are positioned above and selectively rotate to coact with said teeth to restrict the movement of said carriage means and allow said spring means for said carriage means to advance said carriage means in a controlled, step-wise, incremental manner as a result of each marking operation, vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston means slidably mounted to said post means and which selectively carry horizontally extending, marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, rotatable, horizontally extendIng, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, a rotatable, heatable marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said rotatable casing means, said marking wheel and casing means being rotatable in the same direction and at the same time and having horziontal axes of rotation lying in a common plane, a plurality of marking indicia positioned on the periphery of said marking wheel and which are heatable at the same time, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means connected to and positioned in said rotatable marking wheel and rotatable therewith and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicia at the same time during the entire vertically reciprocating, marking cycle, and said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means.

100. The marking device of claim 99 wherein said heating means direct heat to all of the marking indicia at the same time during the entire reciprocating marking cycle of said reciprocating piston means and rotatable marking wheel, and adjustable marking regulator means operatively associated with said vertically reciprocating, marking means for controlling or reproducibly regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece by the heated marking wheel during the marking operation.

101. The marking device of claim 99, wherein said marking wheel is rotatable together, as well as at the same time, with said casing means and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

102. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation and advancing it in a controlled, step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidable carriage means, elongated ratchet means having upwardly extending teeth, carriage means slidably mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece during the marking operation, spring means connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance subject to the coaction of keeper pawl means with said ratchet means and as a result of the reciprocating marking operation, rotatable, keeper pawl means which are operatively conneted to said carriage means and are positioned above and selectively rotate to coact with said teeth to restrict the movement of said carriage means and allow said spring means for said carriage means to advance said carriage means in a controlled, step-wise manner as a result of the marking operation, vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston means slidably mounted to said post means and which selectively carry marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, a rotatable, heatable marking member connected to a projecting portion of said casing means, marking indicium positioned on said marking member, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means positioned in said marking member and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicium during the entire reciprocating marking cycle, said marking member and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotataBly mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicium to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means, and vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means and marking regulator means having spring means for controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation.

103. The marking device of claim 102, wherein said marking member is rotatable together with said casing means and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

104. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation and advancing it in a controlled, step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidable carriage means, elongated ratchet means having upwardly extending teeth, carriage means slidably mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece during the marking operation, spring means connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance subject to the coaction of keeper pawl means with said ratchet means and as a result of the reciprocating marking operation, rotatable, keeper pawl means which are operatively connected to said carriage means and are positioned above and selectively rotate to coact with said teeth to restrict the movement of said carriage means and allow said spring means for said carriage means to advance said carriage means in a controlled, step-wise manner as a result of the marking operation, vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston means slidably mounted to said post means and which selectively carry marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, a rotatable, heatable marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said casing means, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, marking indicia positioned on the periphery of said marking wheel, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means positioned in said marking wheel and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicia at the same time during the entire reciprocating marking cycle, said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means, and vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means and marking regulator means having spring means for controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation.

105. The marking device of claim 104, wherein said heating means dirct heat to all of the marking indicia at the same time during the entire reciprocating marking cycle of said reciprocating piston means and rotatable marking wheel.

106. The marking device of claim 104, wherein said marking wheel is rotatable together with said casing means and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

107. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation and advancing it in a controlled, step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidable carriage means, elongated ratchet means having upwardly extending teeth, carriage means slidably mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece during the marking oPeration, spring means connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance subject to the coaction of keeper pawl means with said ratchet means and as a result of the reciprocating marking operation, rotatable, spring-biased, keeper pawl means which are operatively connected to said carriage means and are positioned above and selectively rotate to coact with said teeth to restrict the movement of said carriage means and allow said spring means for said carriage means to advance said carriage means in a controlled, step-wise, incremental manner as a result of each marking operation, vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston means slidably mounted to said post means and which selectively carry horizontally extending, marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, rotatable, horizontally extending, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, a rotatable, heatable marking member connected to a projecting portion of said rotatable casing means, marking indicium positioned on said marking member, said marking member and casing means being rotatable in the same direction and at the same time and having horizontal axes of rotation lying in a common plane, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means connected to and positioned in said rotatable marking member and rotatable therewith and connected to said conductor wires for direction a desired level of heat to said marking indicium during the entire vertically reciprocating, marking cycle, said marking member and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicium to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means, and reciprocating actuating means operatively connected to said piston means and which actuate said pawl means to effect rotation thereof.

108. The marking device of claim 107, wherein said marking member is rotatable together, as well as at the same time, with said casing means, adjustable marking regulator means operatively associated with said vertically reciprocating, marking means for controlling or reproducibly regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece by the heated marking member during the marking operation, and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

109. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation and advancing it in a controlled, step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidable carriage means, elongated ratchet means having upwardly extending teeth, carriage means slidably mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece during the marking operation, spring means connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance subject to the coaction of keeper pawl means with said ratchet means and as a result of the reciprocating marking operation, rotatable, spring-biased, keeper pawl means which are operatively connected to said carriage means and are positioned above and selectively rotate to coact with said teeth to restrict the movement of said carriage means and allow said spring means for said carriage means to advance said carriage means in a controlled, step-wise, incremental manner as a result of each marking operation, vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston means slidably mounted to said post means and which selectively carry horizontally extending, marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked durinG the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, rotatable, horizontally extending, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, a rotatable, heatable marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said rotatable casing means, said marking wheel and casing means being rotatable in the same direction and at the same time and having horizontal axes of rotation lying in a common plane, a plurality of marking indicia positioned on the periphery of said marking wheel and which are heatable at the same time, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means connected to and positioned in said rotatable marking wheel and rotatable therewith and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicia at the same time during the entire vertically reciprocating, marking cycle, said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means, and reciprocating actuating means operatively connected to said piston means and which actuate said pawl means to effect rotation thereof.

110. The marking device of claim 109, wherein said heating means direct heat to all of the marking indicia at the same time during the entire reciprocating marking cycle of said reciprocating piston means and rotatable marking wheel, and adjustable marking regulator means operatively associated with said vertically reciprocating, marking means for controlling or reproducibly regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece by the heated marking wheel during the marking operation.

111. The marking device of claim 109, wherein said marking wheel is rotatable together, as well as at the same time, with said casing means and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

112. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation and advancing it in a controlled, step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidable carriage means, elongated ratchet means having upwardly extending teeth, carriage means slidably mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece during the marking operation, spring means connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance subject to the coaction of keeper pawl means with said ratchet means and as a result of the reciprocating marking operation, rotatable, spring-biased, keeper pawl means which are operatively connected to said carriage means and are positioned above and selectively rotate to coact with said teeth to restrict the movement of said carriage means and allow said spring means for said carriage means to advance said carriage means in a controlled, step-wise manner as a result of the marking operation, vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston means slidably mounted to sai post mans and which selectively carry marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, a rotatable, heatable marking member connected to a projecting portion of said casing means, marking indicium positioned on said marking member, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means positioned in said marking member And connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicium during the entire reciprocating marking cycle, said marking member and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicium to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means, reciprocating actuating means operatively connected to said piston means and which actuate said pawl means to effect rotation thereof, and vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means and marking regulator means having spring means for controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation.

113. The marking device of claim 112, wherein said marking member is rotatable together with said casing means and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

114. A marking device for marking a work piece during a reciprocating marking operation and advancing it in a controlled, step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidable carriage means, elongated ratchet means having upwardly extending teeth, carriage means slidably mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece during the marking operation, spring means connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance subject to the coaction of keeper pawl means with said ratchet means and as a result of the reciprocating marking operation, rotatable, spring-biased, keeper pawl means which are operatively connected to said carriage means and are positioned above and selectively rotate to coact with said teeth to restrict the movement of said carriage means and allow said spring means for said carriage means to advance said carriage means in a controlled, step-wise manner as a result of the marking operation, vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston means slidably mounted to said post means and which selectively carry marking means vertically both to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating marking cycle of said piston means, reciprocating marking means rotatably mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, said marking means including horizontally extending, casing means rotatably mounted to said piston means and projecting therefrom, conductor wires positioned in said casing means, rotatable, heatable marking wheel connected to a projecting portion of said casing means, marking indicia positioned on the periphery of said marking wheel, and internally and centrally disposed, controllable, electrically induced, heating means positioned in said marking wheel and connected to said conductor wires for directing a desired level of heat to said marking indicia at the same time during the entire reciprocating marking cycle, said marking wheel and the vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means being spaced from each other a distance which allows for dissipation of heat from said heated marking indicia to said vicinity of where said casing means are rotatably mounted to said piston means, reciprocating actuating means operatively connected to said piston means and which actuate said pawl means to effect rotation thereof, and vertically extending, reciprocating drive shaft having a lower portion operatively connected to said piston means and marking regulator means having spring means for controlling or regulating the marking time and the pressure exerted on the work piece during the marking operation.

115. The marking device of claim 114, wherein said heating means direct heat to all of the marking indicia at the same time during the entire reciprocating marking cycle of said reciprocating piston means and rotatable marking wheel.

116. The marking device of claim 114, whereiN said marking wheel is rotatable together with said casing means and said heating means include a resistance-type, wire heating element.

117. A device for supporting a work piece and advancing it in a controlled, step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidable carriage means, slidable, horizontally extending, carriage means slidable mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece, horizontally extending, ratchet means operatively connected to said base means and having upwardly extending teeth of substantially uniform shape and size, rotatable, spring-biased, double-acting, leading, keeper pawl means and trailing, keeper pawl means which are operatively connected to said carriage means and are positioned above and selectively coact with said teeth, each of said leading and trailing pawl means having spring means which tend to urge them to rotate counter-clockwise, spring means connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance to the left subject to the coaction of pawl means with said teeth, said leading or trailing pawl means being maintained in coacting engagement or obstructing relationship with said teeth during such advancement of said carriage means so as to limit that advancement, horizontally extending, rotatable shaft means which extend transversely across said carriage means and are rotatably mounted thereto, front end portion or portions of said shaft means being affixed to and rotating with said leading and trailing pawl means, rotatable lever means operatively connected to said shaft means and extending radially outwardly thereof so that selected, rotational movement of lever means causes said leading pawl means or trailing pawl means to rotate out of engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means, said spring means of said carriage means to advance said carriage means a controllable distance to the left, and at least one of said leading pawl means or trailing pawl means to be in engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means during said advancement of said carriage means.

118. The device of claim 117, wherein said leading pawl means and trailing pawl means are separate pawls.

119. The device of claim 117, wherein said leading pawl means and trailing pawl means are different parts of a single keeper pawl.

120. The device of claim 117, wherein said spring means connected to said carriage means include a constantforce, extension spring.

121. The device of claim 117, wherein said ratchet means include a rotatable, horizontally extending, roller with a plurality of separate, horizontally extending, lines of ratchet teeth carried thereby.

122. The device of claim 117, wherein marking means having heatable marking indicium for marking a work piece are carried by said carriage means.

123. A device for supporting a work piece and advancing it incrementally in a controlled, step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidable carriage means, slidable, horizontally extending, carriage means slidably mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece, horizontally extending, ratchet means operatively connected to said base means and having upwardly extending teeth of substantially uniform shape and size, a pair of rotatable, front and rear, spring-biased, double-acting, keeper pawl which are operatively connected to said carriage means and are positioned above and selectively coact with said teeth in leading and trailing relationship with respect to each other, each of said pawls having spring means which tend to urge said pawls to rotate counter-clockwise and into engagement or obstructing relationship with said teeth, spring means connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance to the left subject to the coaction of said pawl with said teeth, a keeper pawl being maintained in coacting engagement or obstructing relationship with said teeth during such advancement of said carriage means so as to limit that Advancement, horizontally extending, rotatable tubular sleeve which extends transversely across said carriage means and is rotatably mounted thereto, a front end portion of said sleeve being affixed to said rear pawl so that said sleeve and rear pawl rotate at the same time and in the same direction, horizontally extending, rotatable rod which is rotatably mounted in said sleeve, rotates independently of said sleeve, and extends through and beyond a front, end portion of said sleeve, a front, end portion of said rod being affixed to said front pawl so that said rod and front pawl rotate at the same time and in the same direction, rotatable lever means operatively connected to each of said sleeve and rod and extending radially outwardly thereof so that selected, sequential, rotational movement of each of said lever means for said leading and trailing pawls in a clockwise direction sequentially causes said leading pawl, followed by said trailing pawl, to likewise rotate in a clockwise direction out of engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means and said spring means of said carriage means to advance said carriage means sequentially and in a step-wise manner a controllable distance to the left during said sequential, clockwise rotation of each of said pawls, and at least one of said pawls being in engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means during said step-wise advancement of said carriage means.

124. The device of claim 123, wherein said spring means connected to said carriage means include a constantforce, extension spring.

125. The device of claim 123, wherein said ratchet means include a rotatable, horizontally extending, roller with a plurality of separate, horizontally extending, lines of ratchet teeth carried thereby.

126. The device of claim 123, wherein marking means having heatable marking indicium for marking a work piece are carried by said carriage means.

127. A device for supporting a work piece and advancing it incrementally in a controlled, step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidable carriage means, slidable, horizontally extending, carriage means slidably mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece, horizontally extending, ratchet means operatively connected to said base means and having upwardly extending teeth of substantially uniform shape and size, a pair of rotatable, front and rear, spring-biased, double-acting, keeper pawls which are operatively connected to said carriage means and are positioned above and selectively coact with said teeth in leading and trailing relationship with respect to each other, each of said pawls having spring means which tend to urge said pawl to rotate counter-clockwise and into engagement or obstructing relationship with said teeth, spring means connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance to the left subject to the coaction of said pawl with said teeth, a keeper pawl being maintained in coacting engagement or obstructing relationship with said teeth during such advancement of said carriage means so as to limit that advancement, horizontally, extending, rotatable tubular sleeve which extends transversely across said carriage means and is rotatably mounted thereto, a front, end portion of said sleeve being affixed to said rear pawl so that said sleeve and rear pawl rotate at the same time and in the same direction, horizontally extending, rotatable rod which is rotatably mounted in said sleeve, rotates independently of said sleeve, and extends through and beyond a front, end portion of said sleeve, a front, end portion of said rod extending through said rear pawl and being affixed to said front pawl so that said rod and front pawl rotate at the same time and in the same direction, clutch means operatively associated with said rod at a rear end portion thereof, rotatable, radially extending, lever means operatively associated with said clutch means, spring means operatively connected to said lever meAns for said trailing pawl and operatively associated with said clutch means so as to tend to urge that lever means to rotate counter-clockwise without rotating said trailing pawl; when said lever means for said leading pawl rotate clockwise and downward, said clutch means are disengaged, said leading pawl is rotated clockwise until it is disengaged from its contiguous, obstructing relationship with said ratchet means, said spring means which are operatively connected to said lever means for said trailing pawl and operatively associated with said clutch means urge that lever means to rotate counter-clockwise without rotating said trailing pawl, and said spring means for said carriage means advance said carriage means and leading and trailing pawls incrementally to the left until further movement of said carriage means to the left is limited by said trailing pawl being urged in a counter-clockwise direction by its spring means towards or into contiguous, obstructing relationship with said ratchet means; and when said lever means for said trailing pawl rotate clockwise and upward, said clutch means become positively engaged, said trailing pawl is rotated clockwise until said trailing pawl is disengaged from its contiguous, obstructing relationship with said ratchet means, and said spring means for said carriage means advance said carriage means and leading and trailing pawls incrementally to the left the remainder of the incremental movement until further movement of said carriage means to the left is limited by said leading pawl being urged in a counter-clockwise direction by its spring means towards or into contiguous, obstructing relationship with said ratchet means.

128. The device of claim 127, wherein said spring means connected to said carriage means include a constantforce, extension spring.

129. The device of claim 127, wherein said ratchet means include a rotatable, horizontally extending, roller with a plurality of separate, horizontally extending, lines of ratchet teeth carried thereby.

130. The device of claim 127, wherein marking means having heatable marking indicium for marking a work piece are carried by said carriage means.

131. A device for supporting a work piece and advancing it in a controlled, step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidable carriage means, slidable, horizontally extending, carriage means slidably mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece, horizontally extending, ratchet means operatively connected to said base means and having upwardly extending teeth of substantially uniform shape and size, a rotatable, spring-biased, double-acting, keeper pawl having leading pawl means and trailing pawl means, said keeper pawl being operatively connected to said carriage means and positioned above and selectively coacting with said teeth and upon rotation providing either said leading or trailing pawl means in engagement or obstructing relationship with said teeth, said keeper pawl having spring means operatively associated therewith which tend to urge said keeper pawl to rotate counter-clockwise so that said leading pawl means engage or are in obstructing relationship with said teeth, spring means connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance to the left subject to the coaction of said leading or trailing pawl means with said teeth, said leading pawl means or trailing pawl means being maintained in coacting engagement or obstructing relationship with said teeth during such advancement of said carriage means so as to limit that advancement, horizontally extending, rotatable shaft which extends transversely across said carriage means and is rotatably mounted thereto, a front, portion of said shaft being affixed to an eccentrically positioned location of said keeper pawl so that said keeper pawl and shaft rotate at the same time and in the same direction, rotatable lever means operatively connected to said shaft and extending radially outwardly thereof; the selected rOtational movement of said lever means in a clockwise direction results in said shaft and keeper pawl likewise rotating in a clockwise direction thereby sequentially causing said leading pawl means to be rotated out of engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means and said trailing pawl means to be rotated into engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means, and said spring means of said carriage means to advance said carriage means a controllable distance to the left; the subsequent, selected, rotational movement of said lever means in a counter-clockwise direction results in said shaft and keeper pawl likewise rotating in a counterclockwise direction thereby sequentially causing said trailing pawl means to be rotated out of engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means and said leading pawl means to be rotated into engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means, and said spring means of said carriage means to advance said carriage means an additional controllable distance to the left; and at least one of said leading pawl means or trailing pawl means being in engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means during the step-wise advancement of said carriage means.

132. The device of claim 131, wherein said spring means connected to said carriage means include a constantforce, extension spring.

133. The device of claim 131, wherein said ratchet means include a rotatable, horizontally extending, roller with a plurality of separate, horizontally extending, lines of ratchet teeth carried thereby.

134. The device of claim 131, wherein marking means having heatable marking indicium for marking a work piece are carried by said carriage means.

135. A marking device for marking a work piece and advancing it in a controlled, step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidable carriage means, slidable, horizontally extending, carriage means slidably mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece during a marking operation, spring means connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance to the left, horizontally extending, ratchet means operatively connected to said base means and having upwardly extending teeth, rotatable, spring-biased, double-acting, leading, keeper pawl means and trailing, keeper pawl means which are operatively connected to said carriage means and are positioned above and selectively coact with said teeth to allow said spring means for said carriage means to advance said carriage means to the left in a controlled, step-wise manner, vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston menas slidably mounted to said post means and which carry marking means to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating cycle, marking means mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, reciprocating actuating means operatively connected to said piston means, each of said leading and trailing pawl means having spring means which tend to urge them to rotate counter-clockwise, said leading pawl means or trailing pawl means being maintained in coacting engagement or obstructing relationship with said teeth during the reciprocating cycle so that said carriage means are advanced an incremental step during each of the downstroke and upstroke of the reciprocating cycle, horizontally extending, rotatable shaft means which extend transversely across said carriage means and are rotatably mounted thereto, front end portion or portions of said shaft means being affixed to and rotating at the same time and in the same direction with said leading and trailing pawl means, rotatable lever means operatively connected to said shaft means and extending radially outwardly thereof; the selected, rotational movement of lever means in a clockwise direction during the downstroke of said actuating means results in said leading pawl means likewise rotating in a clockwise direction thereby allowing said leading pawl mEans to be rotated out of engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means and said trailing pawl means being in engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means, and said spring means of said carriage means to advance said carriage means a controllable distance to the left; the subsequent, selected, rotational movement of lever means for said trailing pawl during the upstroke results in said trailing pawl means likewise rotating thereby allowing said trailing pawl means to be rotated out of engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means and said leading pawl means being in engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means, and said spring means of said carriage means to advance said carriage means an additional controllable distance to the left; and at least one of said leading pawl means or trailing pawl means being in engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means during the step-wise advancement of said carriage means during the downstroke and upstroke.

136. The marking device of claim 135, wherein said leading pawl means and trailing pawl means are separate pawls.

137. The marking device of claim 135, wherein said leading pawl means and trailing pawl means are different parts of a single keeper pawl.

138. The marking device of claim 135, wherein said spring means connected to said carriage means include a constant-force extension spring.

139. The marking device of claim 135, wherein said marking means include electrically heated, marking indicium for marking a work piece.

140. The marking device of claim 135, wherein said device includes trip means which provide for the selected movement of said slidable carriage means without requiring any reciprocating movement of said piston means.

141. A marking device for marking a work piece and advancing it incrementally in a controlled step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidable carriage means, slidable, horizontally extending, carriage means slidably mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece during a marking operation, spring means connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance to the left, horizontally extending, ratchet means operatively connected to said base means and having upwardly extending teeth, rotatable, front and rear, spring-biased, double-acting, keeper pawls which are operatively connected to said carriage means and are positioned above and selectively coact with said teeth in leading and trailing relationship with respect to each other to allow said spring means for said carriage means to advance said carriage means incrementally to the left in a controlled, step-wise manner, vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston means slidably mounted to said post means and which carry marking means to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating cycle, marking means mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, reciprocating actuating means operatively connected to said piston means and which actuate said pawls clockwise, each of said pawls having spring means which tend to urge said pawls to rotate counter-clockwise and into engagement or obstructing relationship with said teeth, a keeper pawl being maintained in coacting engagement or obstructing relationship with said teeth during the reciprocating cycle so that said carriage means are advanced an incremental step during each of the downstroke and upstroke of the reciprocating cycle, horizontally extending, rotatable tubular sleeve which extends transversely across said carriage means and is rotatably mounted thereto, a front, end portion of said sleeve being affixed to said rear pawl so that said sleeve and rear pawl rotate at the same time and in the same direction, horizontally extending, rotatable rod which is rotatably mounted in said sleeve, rotates independently of said sleeve, and extends through and beyond a front, end portion of said sleeve, a front, end portion of said rod extending through said rear pawl and being affixed to said front pawl so that said rod and front pawl rotate at the same time and in the same direction, lever means operatively connected to each of said sleeve and rod and extending radially outwardly thereof; the selected, rotational movement of said lever means for said leading pawl in a clockwise direction during the downstroke of said actuating means results in said leading pawl likewise rotating in a clockwise direction thereby allowing said leading pawl to be rotated out of engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means and said trailing pawl means being in engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means, and said spring means of said carriage means to advance said carriage means a controllable distance to the left; the subsequent, selected, rotational movement of said lever means for said trailing pawl in a clockwise direction during the upstroke of said actuating means results in said trailing pawl likewise rotating in a clockwise direction thereby allowing said trailing pawl to be rotated out of engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means and said leading pawl means being in engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means, and said spring means of said carriage means to advance said carriage means an additional controllable distance to the left; and said leading pawl or trailing pawl being in engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means during the step-wise advancement of said carriage means during the downstroke and upstroke.

142. The marking device of claim 141, wherein said spring means connected to said carriage means include a constant-force extension spring.

143. The marking device of claim 141, wherein said marking means include electrically heated, marking indicium for marking a work piece.

144. The marking device of claim 141, wherein said device includes trip means which provide for the selected movement of said slidable carriage means without requiring any reciprocating movement of said piston means.

145. A marking device for marking a work piece and advancing it incrementally in a controlled, step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidable carriage means, slidable, horizontally extending, carriage means slidably mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece during a marking operation, spring means connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance to the left, horizontally extending, ratchet means operatively connected to said base means and having upwardly extending teeth, rotatable, front and rear, spring-biased, double-acting, keeper pawls which are operatively connected to said carriage means and are positioned above and selectively coact with said teeth in leadng and trailing relationship with respect to each other to allow said spring means for said carriage means to advance said carriage means incrementally to the left in a controlled, step-wise manner, vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston means slidably mounted to said post means and which carry marking means to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating cycle, marking means mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, reciprocating actuating means operatively connected to said piston means and which actuate said pawls clockwise, each of said pawls having spring means which tend to urge said pawls to rotate counter-clockwise and into engagement or obstructing relationship with said teeth, a keeper pawl being maintained in coacting engagement or obstructing relationship with said teeth during the reciprocating cycle so that said carriage means are advanced an incremental step during each of the downstroke and upstroke of the reciprocating cycle, horizontally extending, rotatable tubular sleeve which extends transversely across said carriage means and is rotatably mounted thereto, a front, end porTion of said sleeve being affixed to said rear pawl so that said sleeve and rear pawl rotate at the same time and in the same direction, horizontally extending, rotatable rod which is rotatably mounted in said sleeve, rotates independently of said sleeve, and extends through and beyond a front, end portion of said sleeve, a front, end portion of said rod extending through said rear pawl and being affixed to said front pawl so that said rod and front pawl rotate at the same time and in the same direction, clutch means operatively associated with said rod at a rear end portion thereof and being disengaged during the downstroke of the reciprocating cycle and providing positive drive means during the upstroke, rotatable, radially extending, lever means operatively associated with said clutch means, spring means operatively connected to said lever means for said trailing pawl and operatively associated with said clutch means so as to tend to urge that lever means to rotate counter-clockwise during the downstroke without rotating said trailing pawl, when said clutch means are engaged during the upstroke, the clockwise rotation of said lever means for said trailing pawl by said actuating means during the upstroke causes said trailing pawl to rotate in a clockwise direction, said lever means for said leading pawl being rotated in a clockwise direction by said actuating means during the downstroke to cause said leading pawl to rotate clockwise, said reciprocating actuating means causing said lever means for said leading pawl to rotate clockwise and downward during the downstroke and causing said lever means for said trailing pawl to rotate clockwise and upward during the upstroke; during the downstroke of the reciprocating cycle, said lever means for said leading pawl rotate clockwise downward, said clutch means are disengaged, said leading pawl is rotated clockwise until it is disengaged from its contiguous, obstructing relationship with said ratchet means, said spring means which are operatively connected to said lever means for said trailing pawl and operatively associated with said clutch means urge that lever means to rotate counter-clockwise without rotating said trailing pawl, and said spring means for said carriage means advance said carriage means and leading and trailing pawls incrementally to the left until further movement of said carriage means to the left is limited by said trailing pawl being urged in a counter-clockwise direction by its spring means towards or into contiguous, obstructing relationship with said ratchet means; and during the upstroke of the reciprocating cycle, said lever means for said trailing pawl rotate clockwise and upward, said clutch means become positively engaged, said trailing pawl is rotated clockwise until said trailing pawl is disengaged from its contiguous, obstructing relationship with said ratchet means, and said spring means for said carriage means advance said carriage means and leading and trailing pawls incrementally to the left the remainder of the incremental movement until further movement of said carriage means to the left is limited by said leading pawl being urged in a counter-clockwise direction by its spring means towards or into contiguous, obstructing relationship with said ratchet means.

146. The marking device of claim 145, wherein said spring means connected to said carriage means include a constant-force extension spring.

147. The marking device of claim 145, wherein said marking means include electrically heated, marking indicium for marking a work piece.

148. The marking device of claim 145, wherein said device includes trip means which provide for the selected movement of said slidable carriage means without requiring any reciprocating movement of said piston means.

149. A marking device for marking a work piece and advancing it in a controlled, step-wise manner having base means for receiving slidable carriage means, slidable, horizontally extending, carriage means slidably mounted to said base means and which can carry a work piece during a marking operation, spring means connected to said carriage means which tend to urge said carriage means to advance to the left, horizontally extending, ratchet means operatively connected to said base means and having upwardly extending teeth, a rotatable, spring-biased, double-acting, keeper pawl having leading pawl means and trailing pawl means, said keeper pawl being operatively connected to said carriage means and positioned above and selectively coacting with said teeth to allow said spring means for said carriage means to advance said carriage means to the left in a controlled, step-wise manner, vertically extending, post means, vertically reciprocating, piston means slidably mounted to said post means and which carry marking means to and away from a work piece to be marked during the reciprocating cycle, marking means mounted to said piston means and which reciprocate therewith, reciprocating actuating means operatively connected to said piston means and which actuate said keeper pawl during the downstroke, said keeper pawl having spring means operatively associated therewith which tend to urge said keeper pawl to rotate counter-clockwise so that said leading pawl means engage or are in obstructing relationship with said teeth, said leading pawl means or trailing pawl means being maintained in coacting engagement or obstructing relationship with said teeth during the reciprocating cycle so that said carriage means are advanced an incremental step during each of the downstroke and upstroke of the reciprocating cycle, horizontally extending, rotatable shaft which extends transversely across said carriage means and is rotatably mounted thereto and is actuated clockwise by and during the downstroke of said actuating means, a front, portion of said shaft being affixed to an eccentrically positioned location of said keeper pawl so that said keeper pawl and shaft rotate at the same time and in the same direction, rotatable lever means operatively connected to said shaft and extending radially outwardly thereof; the selected, rotational movement of said lever means in a clockwise direction during the downstroke of said actuating means results in said shaft and keeper pawl likewise rotating in a clockwise direction thereby sequentially causing said leading pawl means to be rotated out of engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means and said trailing pawl means to be rotated into engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means, and said spring means of said carriage means to advance said carriage means a controllable distance to the left; the subsequent, selected, rotational movement of said lever means in a counter-clockwise direction during the upstroke by said spring means operatively associated with said keeper pawl results in said shaft and keeper pawl likewise rotating in a counter-clockwise direction thereby sequentially causing said trailing pawl means to be rotated out of engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means and said leading pawl means to be rotated into engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means, and said spring means of said carriage means to advance said carriage means an additional controllable distance to the left; and at least one of said leading pawl means or trailing pawl means being in engagement or obstructing relationship with said ratchet means during the step-wise advancement of said carriage means.

150. The marking device of claim 149, wherein said spring means connected to said carriage means include a constant-force extension spring.

151. The marking device of claim 149, wherein said marking means include electrically heated, marking indicium for marking a work piece.

152. The marking device of claim 149, wherein said device includes trip means which provide for the selected movement of said slidable carriage means without requiring any reciprocating movement of said piston means.