WO2003009979A1

WO2003009979A1 - A hide stamping apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2003009979A1
Application number: PCT/AU2002/000813
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Bass
Original assignee: Richard Bass
Priority date: 2001-06-21
Filing date: 2002-06-21
Publication date: 2003-02-06
Also published as: AUPR586401A0

Abstract

A stamping apparatus (10) for producing a variable, information-bearing pattern of perforations on a suitably positioned hide is disclosed. The apparatus (10) includes a body (20) and a plurality of piston-receiving chambers (2) extending therein. A plurality of pistons (22) are received by the piston-receiving chambers (21) and are selectively extendable therefrom. A plurality of suitably arranged punch elements are operable to be selectively extended relative to the body so as to thereby perforate the hide by suitably extending the pistons. A retracting mechanism (24) is operable to retract the extended pistons (22) and punch elements (23). In use, a selected information-bearing pattern of perforations is producible on the hide by suitably extending the pistons (22) and punch elements (23) so that the extended punch elements (23) produce a pattern of perforations on the hide which corresponds to the selected information-bearing of perforations.

Description

A HIDE STAMPING APPARATUS Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a stamping apparatus and, in particular, to a stamping apparatus which is operable to produce a variable, information-bearing pattern of perforations on a hide.

Although the invention has been developed primarily for the purpose of producing a variable, information-bearing pattern of perforations on a hide and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular use.

Description of the Prior Art

Hides are often marked with information-bearing indicia. Such indicia may provide information regarding particular attributes of a hide such as the quality or source thereof. The indicia may be indirectly applied to the hide by placing the indicia on a tag and then fixing the tag to the hide. Alternatively, the indicia may be directly applied to the hide with a suitable apparatus such as a stamping apparatus. The stamping apparatus may apply the indicia to the surface of the hide or may punch the indicia onto the hide.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hide stamping apparatus which provides the public with a useful or commercial choice.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a stamping apparatus for producing a variable, information-bearing pattern of perforations on a suitably positioned hide, the apparatus including: a body; a plurality of piston-receiving chambers extending into the body; a plurality of pistons received by the piston-receiving chambers and selectively extendable therefrom; a plurality of suitably arranged punch elements operable to be selectively extended relative to the body by suitably extending the pistons such that the extended punch elements perforate the hide; and a retracting mechanism operable to retract the extended pistons and punch elements, whereby, in use, a selected information-bearing pattern of perforations is producible on the hide by suitably extending the pistons and punch elements so that the extended punch elements produce a pattern of perforations on the hide which corresponds to the selected information- bearing pattern of perforations.

The pistons may be extendable from the piston-receiving chambers by suitably varying the pressure of a fluid contained therein. For example, the pistons may be hydraulically or pneumatically operated.

Preferably, the pistons are abuttable against the punch elements so that the pistons are able to push the punch elements through the hide as they are extended from their piston-receiving chambers. Advantageously, the punch elements are adapted to perforate the hide without removing material therefrom to thereby avoiding having to cater for the handling of such material.

It is preferred that the punch elements are arranged so that the apparatus is able to produce an alphabetical or numeric character on the hide. For example, the apparatus may have seven pistons and seven punch elements which are arranged in a similar manner to the segments of a seven- segment digital display.

Preferably, the retracting mechanism includes a moveable carriage operable to push the extended pistons into their piston-receiving chambers and to draw the extended punch elements towards the body. The carriage may be hydraulically or pneumatically operated

Advantageously, the body may include a support portion which the punch elements extend through. The body may also include a die portion. In order that the invention may be more fully understood and put into practice, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a stamping apparatus according to the present invention which shows the punch elements in the fully retracted position;

Fig. 2 illustrates the stamping apparatus of Fig. 1 with some of the punch elements partially extended; Fig. 3 illustrates the stamping apparatus of Fig. 1 with some of the punch elements fully extended;

Fig. 4 is a first cross-section of the stamping apparatus illustrated in

Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a second cross-section of the stamping apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a third cross-section of the stamping apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2.

Detailed Description

Referring to the Figs 1 to 6, a stamping apparatus 10 for producing a variable, information-bearing pattern of perforations on a suitably positioned hide includes a body 20 having seven piston-receiving chambers 21 extending therein. Seven pistons 22 are received by the piston-receiving chambers 21 and are selectively extendable therefrom. Seven suitably arranged punch elements 23 are operable to be selectively extended relative to the body 20 by suitably extending the pistons 22 such that the extended punch elements 23 perforate the hide. A retracting mechanism 24 is operable to retract the extended pistons 22 and punch elements 23. In use, a selected information-bearing pattern of perforations is producible on the hide by suitably extending the pistons 22 and punch elements 23 so that the extended punch elements 23 produce a pattern of perforations on the hide which corresponds to the selected information-bearing pattern of perforations. The body 20 includes a main portion 30, a connecting portion 31 , a support portion 32 and a die portion 33. Portions 31 to 33 are generally in the form of rectangular blocks while the main portion 30 is generally in the form of an L-shaped block. The main portion 30, support portion 32 and die portion 33 are fixed to the connecting portion 31 by any suitable means such as screws or bolts (not shown). The various portions 30 to 33 are all constructed from brass, however it should be appreciated that other suitable materials could be used in their construction.

Piston-receiving chambers 21 are provided by parallel cylindrical apertures which extend into the main portion 30 from a side thereof. The piston-receiving chambers 21 are arranged such that one of the chambers 21 is surrounded by the other chambers 21 which are arranged into a hexagonal pattern.

Referring to Figs. 4 to 6, a plurality of ports A to H are provided by cylindrical apertures which extend into and are distributed along a side of the main portion 30. Ports A to H are adapted to be coupled to a hydraulic or pneumatic system via suitable connectors. A pair of threaded apertures (not shown) extend into the main portion 30 on opposite sides of each port A to H to enable a connector to be secured to each port. A plurality of channels 40, 41 extend through the main portion 30.

Referring to Fig. 4, channel 41 extends from port H to a side of the main portion 30 which abuts against the connecting portion 31. Referring to Figs. 4 to 6, ports A to G communicate with a lower region of respective piston- receiving chambers 21 through channels 40. The depth of the piston chambers 21 varies so that the channels 40, 41 can be readily formed in the main portion 30 by drilling, however it will be appreciated that the piston chambers 21 may be of uniform depth.

Referring to Fig. 4, a cylindrical aperture 42 extends into the main portion 30 from a face thereof. Aperture 42 is both adjacent and parallel to the piston-receiving chambers 21.

Pistons 22 are identical to each other and each is cylindrical and formed from stainless steel. A stainless steel sleeve (not shown) lines each piston-receiving chamber 21 to prevent the stainless steel pistons 22 from rubbing against and wearing the softer brass of the main portion 30. O-rings 50 are mounted on the pistons 22 and form a hermetic seal between the pistons 22 and the piston-receiving chambers 21. The O-rings 50 are mounted on the pistons 22 such that they are adjacent the ends of the pistons 22 which are proximal to the piston-receiving chambers 21. The retracting mechanism 24 includes a stainless steel carriage 60 operable to retract the extended pistons 22 by pushing the extended pistons 22 into their piston-receiving chambers 21 and to draw the extended punch elements 23 towards the body 20. Carriage 60 includes a rectangular flange 61 , a cylindrical projection 62 and a cylindrical piston 63. Projection 62 extends perpendicularly from one side of the flange 61 and is offset with respect to the centre of the flange 61. Projection 62 is slideably received by the aperture 42 in the main portion 30 which is lined with a bronze sleeve (not shown) to prevent the stainless steel projection 62 from rubbing against and wearing the softer brass of the main portion 30. Piston 63 extends perpendicularly from an opposite side of the flange 61 to the projection 62 such that the piston 63 is substantially aligned with the projection 62. An O-ring 51 is mounted on the piston 63 such that the

O-ring 51 is adjacent an end thereof which is proximal to the piston-receiving chamber 81.

Seven identical triangular apertures (not shown) extend through the flange 61. The arrangement of the triangular apertures is similar to the arrangement of the segments of a seven-segment digital display in that six of the apertures form the outline of a rectangle while the seventh aperture extends across the centre of the rectangle. The apertures in the flange 61 are each substantially aligned with a respective one of the piston-receiving chambers 21.

The punch elements 23 are identical to each other. Each punch element 23 is constructed from stainless steel and is slideably received by a respective one of the triangular apertures which extend through the flange 61 of the carriage 60. Each punch element 23 is elongate and has a triangular- shaped transverse cross-section which is constant along the length of the punch elements 23 except at the ends thereof. The transverse cross- sectional shape of the punch elements 23 is identical to the shape of the triangular apertures which extend through the flange 61. However, the transverse cross-sectional dimensions of the punch elements 23 are such that the punch elements 23 are able to slide relative to the carriage 60 without substantially any relative transverse movement. Each punch element 23 has a flange (not shown) located at an end thereof which is proximal to the pistons 22 and which is dimensioned so that each punch element 23 is only able to abut against a single piston 22. The flanges of the punch elements 23 also function to limit the sliding movement of the punch elements 23 through the flange 61 in a direction away from the main portion 30. The other end of each punch element 23 is tapered, has hardened cutting edges 70 and is adapted to perforate a hide without removing material therefrom.

Referring to Fig. 1 , the support portion 32 includes seven triangular apertures 80 which extend therethrough. The transverse cross-sectional shape and dimensions of the triangular apertures 80 are the same as the triangular apertures which extend through the flange 61. Moreover, the triangular apertures 80 are aligned with the triangular apertures which extend through the flange 61. Thus, the arrangement of the apertures 80 is identical to the arrangement of the triangular apertures in flange 61. Each punch element 23 is slideably received by a respective aperture 80 and the punch elements 23 are able to be extended and retracted from a side of the support portion 32 which is opposite to a side thereof which is adjacent to the carriage 60.

Referring to Fig. 4, a cylindrical piston-receiving chamber 81 extends into the support portion 32 from a side thereof which is adjacent to the carriage 60. Piston 63 is slideably received by piston-receiving chamber 81 such that the O-ring 51 forms a hermetic seal between the piston 63 and the piston-receiving chamber 81. A stainless steel sleeve (not shown) lines the piston-receiving chamber 81 to prevent the stainless steel piston 63 from rubbing against and wearing the softer brass of the support portion 32. A channel 82 extends through the support portion 32 from a lower region of the piston chamber 81 to a side of the support portion 32 which abuts against the connecting portion 31. Channel 82 communicates with channel 41 in the main portion 30 by a channel 90 which extends into the connecting portion 31 from a side thereof which abuts against the main portion 30 and the support portion 32. The join between channel 90 and channel 41 is hermetically sealed by an O-ring (not shown), as is the join between channel 90 and channel 82.

Seven identical circular apertures 91 extend through the die portion 33. Each aperture 91 is aligned with a respective one of the piston-receiving chambers 21 in the main portion 30. Also, each punch element 23 is aligned with a respective one of the apertures 91 which are dimensioned so that the punch elements 23 can be extended into the apertures 91 without contacting the die portion 33. The stamping apparatus 10 is normally positioned adjacent a horizontal work surface which is adapted to support a hide. The apparatus 10 is mounted above the work surface such that the die portion 33 is located adjacent to the work surface while the main portion 30 is located vertically above the die portion 33. An aperture (not shown) which extends through the body 20 enables a mounting bar to extend therethrough and to support the apparatus 10.

Ports A to H of the apparatus 10 are coupled to a hydraulic system by hydraulic hoses (not shown) so that a suitable hydraulic fluid such as a food grade hydraulic fluid is able to flow between the piston-receiving chambers 21 , 81 of the apparatus 10 and the hydraulic system (not shown). A Programmable Logic Controller (not shown) or other suitable controlling device controls the operation of the hydraulic system and, hence, the operation of the apparatus 10. In particular, the Programmable Logic 5 Controller or PLC is adapted to control the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the piston-receiving chambers 21 , 81.

Before a particular information-bearing pattern of perforations can be stamped onto a hide using the apparatus 10, the punch elements 23 must be drawn away from the die portion 33 by a sufficient amount so that the hide 0 can be suitably positioned between the support portion 32 and the die portion 33. To reduce the probability of a user being injured by the punch elements 23 as the hide is positioned between the support portion 32 and the die portion 33, the punch elements 23 will usually be fully retracted into the support portion 32 as shown in Fig. 1. The punch elements 23 are fully 5 retracted into the support portion 32 by moving the carriage 60 towards the main portion 30 until the pistons 22 are fully retracted into their piston- receiving chambers 21 and the flanges of all the punch elements 23 abut against the flange 61 of the carriage 60 and the pistons 22. Movement of the carriage 60 towards the main portion 30 is under the control of the PLC which o operates the hydraulic system to increase the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the piston chamber 81 so that the piston 63 is extended therefrom.

After the punch elements 23 have been fully retracted, the hide can then be positioned between the support portion 32 and the die portion 33 so that the surface of the hide facing the support portion 32 corresponds to the side from which the information-bearing pattern of perforations is to be read. Once the hide has been placed into position a protective safety shield (not shown) which restricts user access to the apparatus 10 is lowered. Also, the PLC controls the hydraulic system to decrease the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in piston-receiving chamber 81 so that the carriage 60 can be moved towards the support portion 32. It should be noted that even if the carriage 60 was to move towards the support portion 32 as a result of the decrease in pressure in piston-receiving chamber 81 and one or more of the punch elements 23 were to then move towards and contact the hide due to gravity (say), the punch elements 23 would normally not contact the hide with sufficient force to perforate the hide.

Once the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the piston-receiving chamber 81 has been decreased, the PLC controls the hydraulic system to increase the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the piston-receiving chambers 21 of the pistons 22 which are able to extend the punch elements 23 which need to perforate the hide to produce the desired information-bearing pattern of perforations. For example, if the seven segment digital representation of the numeral "6" is to be stamped into the hide so that the numeral can be read from the surface of the hide which faces the support portion 32, the PLC controls the hydraulic system to increase the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the piston-receiving chambers 21 which communicate with ports A, B, C, D, F and G. The pistons 22 received by the piston-receiving chambers 21 which contain the pressurised hydraulic fluid are extended therefrom so that the punch elements 23 which are abuttable against the extended pistons 22 perforate the hide. It has been found that a pressure in the range of 750 to 2,000 psi in each piston-receiving chamber 21 provides a sufficient force for the punch elements 23 to penetrate through a hide. Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the partial extension of some of the pistons 22 from the main portion 30 and the resulting position of their associated punch elements 23. Fig. 3 illustrates the full extension of some of the pistons 22 from the main portion 30 and the resulting position of their associated punch elements 23.

After the hide has been stamped the punch elements 23 are retracted therefrom so that the hide can be removed from the apparatus 10. Before the punch elements 23 can be retracted the PLC controls the hydraulic system to decrease the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the piston-receiving chambers 21 so that the carriage 60 can again be moved towards the main portion 30. The PLC then controls the hydraulic system to increase the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the piston-receiving chamber 81 so that piston 63 again extends therefrom until the punch elements 23 abut against the pistons 22. The hide can then be removed from the apparatus 10 and the process repeated.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the operation of the apparatus 10 can be varied so that the information-bearing pattern of perforations can be read from the surface of the hide facing the die portion 33. Owing to the modular design of the apparatus 10, a plurality of information-bearing patterns can be simultaneously stamped onto a hide by utilising a corresponding number of stamping apparatus 10 which are mounted side by side. The apparatus 10 may also be positioned so that the die portion 33 is located vertically above the support portion 32.

Also each punch element 23 could be secured to a respective piston 22 so that the punch elements 23 move simultaneously with their respective pistons 22. Moreover, the carriage 60 could be dispensed with by suitably biasing each piston 22 so that the pistons 22 would automatically retract into the main portion 30 when the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the piston-receiving chambers 21 is insufficient to maintain the pistons 22 extended from the main portion 30.

A further modification that could be made to the invention would be to use a rotary cam system instead of a PLC to control the operation of the hydraulic system.

Further, the stamping apparatus 10 could be coupled to a pneumatic system instead of a hydraulic system.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A stamping apparatus for producing a variable, information-bearing pattern of perforations on a suitably positioned hide, the apparatus including: a body; a plurality of piston-receiving chambers extending into the body; a plurality of pistons received by the piston-receiving chambers and selectively extendable therefrom; a plurality of suitably arranged punch elements operable to be selectively extended relative to the body by suitably extending the pistons such that the extended punch elements perforate the hide; and a retracting mechanism operable to retract the extended pistons and punch elements, whereby, in use, a selected information-bearing pattern of perforations is producible on the hide by suitably extending the pistons and punch elements so that the extended punch elements produce a pattern of perforations on the hide which corresponds to the selected information- bearing pattern of perforations.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pistons are extendable from the piston-receiving chambers by suitably varying the pressure of a fluid contained therein.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pistons are hydraulically operated.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pistons are pneumatically operated.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pistons are abuttable against the punch elements.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the punch elements are adapted to perforate the hide without removing material therefrom.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the punch elements are arranged so that the apparatus is able to produce an alphabetical or numeric character on the hide.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus includes seven pistons and seven punch elements, and wherein the punch elements are arranged in a similar manner to the segments of a seven-segment digital display.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retracting mechanism includes a moveable carriage operable to push the extended pistons into their piston-receiving chambers and to draw the extended punch elements towards the body.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the carriage is hydraulically operated.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the carriage is pneumatically operated.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a support portion which the punch elements extend through.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a die portion.