WO2001092022A1

WO2001092022A1 - A hand numbering machine

Info

Publication number: WO2001092022A1
Application number: PCT/AU2001/000545
Authority: WO
Inventors: William Gerard Herben
Original assignee: Herben Numbering Systems Pty Limited
Priority date: 2000-06-02
Filing date: 2001-05-11
Publication date: 2001-12-06
Also published as: AUPQ792300A0

Abstract

A hang numbering machine (10) having a supply roll (25) of ink strip (26) and a take up roll (33) that receives the used ink strip (26). The machine (10) has a numbering mechanism (21) which engages the strip (26) to print information on a piece of paper engaged by the machine (10). The machine (10) has a first frame (11) that supports an inner second frame (20). Relative movement between the two frames (11 and 20) causes movement of the strip (26) past the numbering mechanism (21).

Description

A HAND NUMBERING MACHINE Technical Field

The present invention relates to printing apparatus and more particularly but not exclusively to hand numbering machines to apply numbers, date codes or other information.

Background of the Invention

Conventional office type hand numbering machines require the provision of an inkpad. This creates problems in that frequently the pad dries and requires renewal. Also used as an attachment are various means to provide fresh ink. These attachments present a different problem in that frequently splashing occurs during high operating speeds. The splashing detracts from the quality of the material being produced.

Object of the Invention

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages. Summary of the Invention

There is disclosed herein a printing apparatus including: a first frame having an end to be located adjacent a surface to which printing is to be applied by the apparatus; a second frame movably mounted on the first frame so as to be movable between a printing position and an inoperative retracted position, in use said second frame moves between the two positions thereof in a direction generally normal to said surface; a printing member mounted on the second frame so as to be moved therewith and being adapted to be positioned adjacent said surface when said second frame is in said printing position, said member having raised portions which in use project toward said surface; a dry ink strip supply including a supply roll support and a take up roll support between which strip passes, the supports being provided to support a supply roll and a take up roll in respect of said strip; a guide to cause said strip to pass along a predetermined path between the supply roll and take up roll, including past said printing member, so that when said second frame is in said printing position, said raised portions engage said strip to apply ink to said surface: and a drive located on said predetermined path to move the strip from said supply roll past said printing member, said drive being operated by relative movement between said second frame and said first frame.

Preferably, said supply, drive and guide are mounted on said second frame. Preferably, said take up roll is intermittently driven by said drive means during movement of said second frame from said retracted position to said printing position. Preferably, the printing apparatus is a hand numbering machine. Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of a hand numbering machine; Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of the hand numbering machine of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic elevation of a side wall employed in the hand numbering machine of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a schematic side elevation of a numbering mechanism employed in the machine of Figures 1 to 3;

Figure 5 is a schematic side elevation of a modification of the hand numbering machine of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a schematic end elevation of the hand numbering machine of Figure 5. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a hand numbering machine 10. However it should be appreciated that the machine 10 is a printing apparatus that may also be installed in a printing machine.

The hand numbering machine 10 includes a first frame 11 having an end 12. As illustrated in the drawings, the hand numbering machine 10 is to apply a sequence of numbers to sheets of paper 13 having an upper surface 14 to which the numbers are applied.

The first frame 11 includes a pair of side walls 15 joined by a top wall 16 from which there projects a guide 17. The guide 17 slidably supports a shaft 18 extending to a handle 19. Typically the handle 19 would be gripped by a user to operate the machine 10 to apply the numbers to the sheets 13. Movably mounted within the first frame 11 is a second frame 20. The second frame 20 is movable between a printing position (as shown in the drawings) and an inoperative retracted position spaced from the sheet 13.

The second frame 20 has mounted within it a numbering mechanism 21 which is indexed to apply sequential numbers. The numbering mechanism 21 is mounted in the lower end of the frame 20 so that when the frame 20 is in the print position, the numbering mechanism is located adjacent the surface 14. More particularly the numbering mechanism 21 has a plurality of barrels or discs (wheels) 22 at least some of which have raised portions 23. In this example, the raised portions 23 are numbers to be applied to the surface 14.

Also mounted in the second frame 20 is a spindle 24 which receives and supports a supply roll 25 of ink strip 26. The strip 26 is a film and may be impregnated or coated film. Also included is cotton ribbon. The first frame 11 is provided with a slot 27 aligned with the spindle 24 so that the spindle 24 may be withdrawn to enable a replacement roll 25 to be inserted. Typically the roll 25 would be provided with a cylindrical core through which the spindle 24 passes. To remove the spindle 24, the spindle 24 passes through the side wall 31 to exit via the slot 27. A fresh supply roll 25 is inserted and the spindle 24 relocated. Preferably the spindle 24 would have a releasable means to retain the spindle stationary and attached to the side wall 29. Also mounted in the second frame 20 is a take up roll spindle 32 which supports a take up roll 33. The spindle 32 is mounted on a spiggot shaft 58 supported by means of a bearing 34. An end portion of the spindle 32 releasably engages the shaft 58. The other end of the spindle 32 is mounted in a bearing 35 which in turn is mounted in the side wall 31. The first frame 11 is provided with a slot 36 aligned with the spindle 32 to enable withdrawal of the spindle 32 to enable removal of the take up roll 33. Again the spindle 32 would pass through the bearing 35 when the spindle 32 is being withdrawn. Typically the take up roll 33 would have a central core mounted on the spindle 32.

Preferably the spindles 24 and 32 would have "O" rings 37 which frictionally engage the cores of the associated rolls 25 and 33. The second frame 20 is movably mounted within the first frame 11 by means of bearings 38 which engage the internal surfaces of the side walls 15 of the frame 11. The bearings 38 are mounted in the side walls 29 and 31 of the second frame 20. The ink strip 26 passes about a number of guides 39 so as to be restrained to move along a predetermined path from the supply roll 25 to the take up roll 33. A portion of that path is below the discs 22 so that in use, a portion of the ink strip 26 is located between the discs 22 and the surface 14. The projections 23 engage the ink strip 26 and apply numerals to the surface 14. This occurs when the second frame 20 is in its "print" position.

A drive means 40 is provided for driving the take up roll 33 so that used ink strip 26 is taken up by the take up roll 33. In this preferred embodiment, the drive means 40 is mounted in the second frame 20. The drive means 40 includes a shaft 41 upon which there is mounted a driven roller 45. More particularly the driven roller 45 is supported by a "one-way" bearing 67 mounted on the shaft 41. Extending from the shaft 41 is an arm 42 terminating with a pin 43. The pin 43 projects into a slot 44 formed in the side wall 15 of the first frame 11. In this particular embodiment, when the second frame 20 is moving from the "print" position to the retracted position, the pin 43 engages with the upper extremity of the slot 44 so that the arm 42 is driven in an angular direction. The one-way bearing 67 permits movement between the shaft 41 and roller 45 in this direction. Accordingly the roller 45 is not driven. When the second frame 20 is moving from the retracted position to the print position, the pin 43 engages the upper extremity of the slot 44 and causes downward movement of the arm 42. In this particular direction relative movement between the shaft 41 and roller 45 is prevented and therefore the roller 45 is driven.

The slot 44 is best seen in Figure 3 and includes an upper portion 59 and a lower portion 60. When the mechanism 10 is at rest, the pin 43 is located in the upper extremity of the portion 59. When the second frame 20 is moving from the retracted position to the print position, the pin 43 moves along the portion 59 to cause angular movement of the arm 42. Accordingly, initial downward movement of the second frame 20 causes movement of the strip 26. However, the latter portion of the downward movement of the second frame 20 does not cause movement of the strip 26 as the pin 43 enters the portion 60 of the slot 44. When the frame 20 is moving upwardly, the pin 43 is located in the upper portion 59 of the slot 44 and therefore movement of the arm 42 results. However this movement does not cause feed of the strip 26 due to the "one-way" bearing 67.

The roller 45 engages a further roller 46 mounted on a shaft 47. The roller 46 applies a pressure to the roller 45 so as to be driven thereby. The roller 46 has attached to it a gear 48 about which a toothed belt 49 passes so as to be driven thereby. The belt 49 extends to a gear 50 attached to the shaft 32 so as to drive the shaft 32.

The strip 26 also passes between the rollers 45 and 47 so that the rollers 45 and 47 pull the strip 26 from the supply roll 25. The bearing 66 supporting the roller 47 is a "one-way" bearing. The bearing 66 acts to maintain a tension on the belt 44 and therefore prevents unwinding of the strip 26 from the take up roll 33 due to tension in the strip 26.

Extending from the second frame 20 is the shaft 18 which passes up through the guides 17 and terminates with the handle 19. A spring 52 engages the first frame 11 and shaft 18 to urge the second frame 52 to its retracted position.

In operation of the numbering machine 10, a user grips the handle 19 and applies the mechanism 10 to the surface 14. That is, the lower end 12 of the frame 11 engages the surface 14. As the user continues to apply pressure to the handle 19, the second frame 20 moves from the retracted position to the printing position as illustrated. That is, the numbering mechanism 20 moves from a position retracted within the first frame 11 (spaced from the surface 14) to the printing position. During this movement the arm 42 moves in the direction of the arrow 64. Movement of the rolls 25 and 33 takes place and therefore a fresh length of strip 26 is located below the numbering mechanism 21. The roll 25 has resistance applied to it due to the rings 37. In this respect it should be appreciated that the shaft 24 is stationary. The roll 25 moves frictionally over the rings 37 so that tension is maintained in the strip 26. The length of strip 26 fed from the roll 25 remains constant for every downward reciprocation of the frame 20. The drive mechanism 40 attempts to drive the take up roll 33 to an extent greater than that of the feed rate of the strip 26. Accordingly, tension is maintained in the strip 26. However, relative motion is allowed to occur between the take up roll 33 and the shaft 32 via frictional sliding movement between the rings 37 and the roll 33.

The numbering discs 22 engage the strip 26 and applies numbers to the surface 14. As the user retracts the handle 19, the second frame 20 retracts within the first frame 11 and moves the numbering mechanism 21 from contact with the surface 14. As the second frame 20 continues to move to its retracted position within the frame 11, the arm 42 is moved in the opposite direction to the arrow 64. This movement does not cause rotation of the rollers 45 and 46. A particular advantage of the above described preferred embodiment is that a constant length of strip 26 is fed past the numbering mechanism 21 independently of the size of the take up roll 33.

The numbering mechanism 21 includes a shaft 28 upon which the discs 22 are rotatably mounted. Also mounted on the shaft 28 is an indexing swing 51 which is caused to angularly oscillate about the shaft 28. Mounted on the swing 51 is a pawl 54 which engages teeth on the discs 22 to cause indexing thereof. The pawl 54 cause indexing of the discs 22 when the second frame 20 moves from the print position to the retracted position relative to the first frame 11. Also mounted on the shaft 28 is an indexing arm 61 which has a first pin 62 engaged within the slot 63 in the side wall 15.

Movement of the second frame 20 causes angular movement of the arm 61 and therefore indexing of the discs 22 during upward movement of the second frame 20. The swing 51 is driven by the arm 61 by means of a hole in the swing 51 engaged with a second pin 53 fixed to the arm 61. The pin 53 passes through a slot 71 in the side wall 15. In respect of the pawl 54, it should be appreciated that it has a number of pawl fingers, each engaged with a respective one of the discs 22. The numbering mechanism 21, particularly the assembly of the disc 22, is of a relatively conventional structure.

Also attached to the second frame 11 is a mounting block 55 which receives a plurality of springs 56 which have associated with them retaining pawls 70 which engage the discs 22 to retain them in the desired position after indexing.

Extending between the side walls 15 are rods 68 which slidably engage within slots 69 of the side walls 29 and 31 of the second frame 20 to guide the second frame 20.

The numbering machine of Figures 5 and 6 operate substantially the same as the numbering machine of Figures 1 to 4. However, in this embodiment the shape of the slot 44 has been altered and the pin 43 is provided with a bearing 72. A further modification is the size of the bearings 38. In this respect it should be appreciated that the bearings 38 move within parallel slots 74.

Still further in respect of the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6 the guide 17 has been eliminated and the spring 52 configured so as to extend between the top wall 16 and handle 19. The shaft 24 is provided with a radially extending pin 75 that projects into a slot formed in the side wall 29. The slot of the slide wall 29 has an entrance portion allowing insertion of the pin 75, with the slot also extending angularly so as to inhibit removal of the pin upon slight angular displacement of the pin 75. The pin 75 also prevents rotation of the spindle 24. Still further, the spindle 24 is provided with a threaded passage 76 that is engaged by a threaded tool to aid in removal of the spindle 24.

Of particular significance in respect of the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6 is the arrangement by which the take up spindle 32 is driven. In this embodiment the spindle 25 is rotatably supported by bearings 75 mounted in the side walls 29. One of the bearings

75 is in turn supported on a one-way bearing 76. The bearings 75 and 76 project through apertures in the side walls 15, which apertures are sufficient to permit movement between the frames 11 and 20. The bearing 75 is supported by a bush 77 which also projects through the frame 11. The bearing 75 is an interference fit in the side wall 29 while in turn the bearing 76 is an interference fit in the bearing 75. Accordingly, when the spindle 32 is withdrawn the spindle 32 is extracted in the direction of the arrow 77. The spindle 32 can slide through the bearing 75 or alternatively the bearing 75 slide from contact with the bush 77. Mounted on the extremity of the spindle 32 is a resilient "O-ring" 78 that is resiliently deformed by the bearing 76 so as to retain the spindle 32 in position. Secured to the spindle 32 is an arm 79 which has at one extremity a bearing 80.

The bearing 80 is received within an opening 81 in the side wall 15. More particularly, the bearing 76 projects into the opening 81 and moves vertically in the vertically- extending portion 82 of the opening 81. A horizontal portion 83 of the opening 81 receives the bearing 80 and causes the arm 79 to angularly oscillate when the inner frame 20 moves. More particularly, the arm 79 is attached to the spindle 32 by means of the one-way bearing 76. Angular oscillation of the arm 79 causes intermittent angular movement of the spindle 32 to cause intermittent angular movement of the take up roll 33 as discussed previously with respect to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4. The arm 79 is attached to the bearing 76 by having a split end providing arms 84 through which a threaded fastener 85 passes to clamp the arm 79 to the bearing 76. The one-way bearing

76 causes angular movement of the take up roll 33 in the direction of the arrow 86.

Claims

1. A printing apparatus including: a first frame having an end to be located adjacent a surface to which printing is to be applied by the apparatus; a second frame movably mounted on the first frame so as to be movable between a printing position and an inoperative retracted position, in use said second frame moves between the two positions thereof in a direction generally normal to said surface; a printing member mounted on the second frame so as to be moved therewith and being adapted to be positioned adjacent said surface when said second frame is in said printing position, said member having raised portions which in use project toward said surface; a dry ink strip supply including a supply roll support and a take up roll support between which strip passes, the supports being provided to support a supply roll and a take up roll in respect of said strip; a guide to cause said strip to pass along a predetermined path between the supply roll and take up roll, including past said printing member, so that when said second frame is in said printing position, said raised portions engage said strip to apply ink to said surface; and a drive located on said predetermined path to move the strip from said supply roll past said printing member, said drive being operated by relative movement between said second frame and said first frame.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supply, drive and guide are mounted on said second frame.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said take up roll is intermittently driven by said drive means during movement of said second frame from said retracted position to said printing position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said second frame is mounted within said first frame so as to be movable relative thereto.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further including a take up assembly to form a roll from strip that has passed said printing member, and a drive means for said take up assembly.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said dry ink supply and said take up assembly are adapted to provide for relative movement between their respective supply roll and take up roll.

AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 23 August 2001 (23.08.01)]

1. A printing apparatus including: a first frame having an end to be located adjacent a surface to which printing is to be applied by the apparatus; a second frame movably mounted within the first frame so as to be supported thereby for movement between a printing position and an inoperative retracted position, in use said second frame moves between the two positions thereof in a direction generally normal to said surface; a printing member mounted on the second frame so as to be moved therewith and being adapted to be positioned adjacent said surface when said second frame is in said printing position, said member having raised portions which in use project toward said surface; a dry ink strip supply mounted in said second frame and including a supply roll support and a take up roll support between which strip passes, the supports being provided to support a supply roll and a take up roll in respect of said strip; a guide mounted in said second frame to cause said strip to pass along a predetermined path between the supply roll and take up roll, including past said printing member, so that when said second frame is in said printing position, said raised portions engage said strip to apply ink to said surface; and a strip drive located on said predetermined path to move the strip from said supply roll past said printing member, said strip drive being operated by relative movement between said second frame and said first frame.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supply roll support and said take up roll support are adapted to maintain tension in the strip. 3. The printing of claim 1 or 2 wherein said strip drive includes: a strip feed roller mounted in said second frame to engage said strip to pull the strip from said supply roll and move the strip along said path to pass said printing member; and a drive arm engaged with said roller to cause rotation thereof during movement of said second frame to said printing position, said arm being pivotally mounted in said second frame and engaged with said first frame so that movement of said second frame to said printing position causes pivoting of said arm to rotate said roller.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first frame has a slot engaged by said arm so that movement of said second frame to said printing position causes the pivoting of said arm.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said arm engages said roller via a one-way bearing so that said arm drives said roller during movement of said second frame to said printing position.

6. The printing apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said apparatus includes: a take up drive to drive said take up roll support, and wherein said take up drive drives said talce up support during movement of said second frame to said printing position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said take up support includes a shaft to receive and drive said take up roll, and said take up drive includes: a take up arm pivotally mounted in said second frame and engaged with said take up shaft to cause rotation thereof during movement of said second frame to said printing position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first frame includes a slot engaged by said take up arm so that said take up arm is caused to pivot during movement of said second frame to said printing position.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said take up arm is engaged with said take up shaft by a one-way bearing so that said take up shaft is driven during movement of said second frame to said printing position.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said take up roll support includes a take up shaft to receive and drive said take up roll, and said talce up drive includes a drive belt extending between said feed roller and take up shaft so that said talce up shaft is driven in unison with said feed roller.

11. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said apparatus is a hand numbering machine, and said apparatus includes a handle attached to said second frame and engaged by a user to cause movement thereof relative to said first frame.

12. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 10 when included in a printing machine.