WO2004098888A1

WO2004098888A1 - A hand tool

Info

Publication number: WO2004098888A1
Application number: PCT/AU2004/000571
Authority: WO
Inventors: Glen Lawrence Wright
Original assignee: Tms Technologies Inc.
Priority date: 2003-05-12
Filing date: 2004-05-04
Publication date: 2004-11-18
Also published as: AU2003902272A0

Abstract

A hand tool (10) to engage a die (14) mounted on a magnetic holding device (11). The tool (10) has a generally circular peripheral surface (18) that engages the die (14), with the surface (18) being moved angularly about an axis (19) by operation of a handle (23).

Description

A HAND TOOL

Technical Field

The present invention relates to hand tools to aid an operator in moving steel- backed photopolymer and bi-metal dies employed in foil stamping, embossing and combinations thereof.

Background of the Invention

Described in USA Patent 5904096 and International Application PCT/AU03/00012 are magnetic holding devices that secure steel-backed dies in position in a foil stamping machine. The dies need to be accurately located. When positioned on the magnetic holding device the dies are held very securely in position and are very difficult to move. It is not uncommon for an operator to tap the die with a relatively heavy item to move the die to the correct position. A disadvantage of this method of positioning the die is that the operator can frequently miss the edge of the die and engage the die face, thereby damaging the working face of the die. A still further disadvantage is that this "tapping" is not an accurate way of moving the die.

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 hand tool to engage an object to move the object along a planar surface of a supporting member, the supporting member having at least one aperture extending inwardly of the member from said surface, said tool having: a base to rest upon said planar surface, the base having a peripheral surface; a handle extending from the base to be gripped by a user; a projection also extending from the base but to engage within said aperture, said projection providing a pivot axis to extend generally normal to said surface; and wherein said projection is spaced from said handle and said peripheral surface extends both angularly and radially with respect to said axis so that upon a force or torque being applied to said handle said base moves angularly about said axis with said peripheral surface engaging said object to move said object along said surface.

Preferably, said base includes a surface engaging portion, which portion is generally annular. Preferably, said base is circular in configuration so that said peripheral surface is also circular.

Preferably, said handle has a longitudinal axis which is spaced from the axis of said object, with the axis of said handle being generally parallel to the axis of said projection.

Preferably, said tool is at least partly formed of iron 20 to be attracted to a magnet.

There is further disclosed herein, the above tool and a magnetic holding device providing said support with said surface, with said holding device magnetically attracting said tool to urge said tool into contact with said surface.

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 tool engaged with a magnetic holding device, which hand tool is to be operated to move a steel-backed photo polymer or bi-metal die of a foil stamping machine; and

Figure 2 is a schematic bottom plan view of the tool of Figure 1 and the die.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a hand tool 10. The hand tool 10 is to engage a magnetic holding device 11 as disclosed in the above numbered USA Patent and above numbered International Patent Application. However, the magnetic holding device 11 has a plurality of passages 12 extending generally normal to its upper surface 13 upon which a steel-backed photo polymer or bi-metal foil stamping die 14 rests. The die 14 is strongly urged into contact with the surface 13 by means of a plurality of magnets 15 embedded in the device 11. The die 14 has an edge face 15 and a steel-back 16.

The hand tool 10 has a base 17 which when viewed in plan is of a generally circular configuration so as to have a generally circular peripheral surface 18 having a central axis 19. The axis 19 is generally perpendicular to the surface 13. The base 17 has a generally annular portion 21 that engages the surface 13, with the annular portion 21 surrounding a cavity 22. The axis 19 provides the centre for the portion 21. Extended upwardly from the base 17 is a handle 23 that has as its longitudinal axis the axis 19, with the upper end of the handle 13 being provided with a transverse bar 24.

Anchored within the base 17 but extending therefrom is a projection in a form of a pin 25. The pin 25 has a longitudinal axis 26 generally parallel to the axis 19. That is, the axis 26 extends generally normal to the surface 13. The pin 25 is anchored in a passage 27 formed in the base 17 by means of a threaded fastener 28.

As seen in the above drawings the pin 25 is received within the passage 12.

When a user grips the handle 23 and applies a force and/or torque thereto the base 17 is caused to move angularly about the axis 26. For example, if the base 17 is moved in the direction of the arrow 29 the surface 18 engages the edge surface 15 to cause movement of the die 14 in the direction of the arrow 30, that is away from the axis 26.

As will be appreciated from the above drawings the surface 18 extends both angularly and radially relative to the axis 26. The tool 10 is preferably made of iron to ensure it is held in contact with the surface 13 by being attracted by the magnets 15.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A hand tool to engage an object to move the object along a planar surface of a supporting member, the supporting member having at least one aperture extending inwardly of the member from said surface, said tool having: a base to rest upon said planar surface, the base having a peripheral surface; a handle extending from the base to be gripped by a user; a projection also extending from the base but to engage within said aperture, said projection providing a pivot axis to extend generally normal to said surface; and wherein said projection is spaced from said handle and said peripheral surface extends both angularly and radially with respect to said axis so that upon a force or torque being applied to said handle said base moves angularly about said axis with said peripheral surface engaging said object to move said object along said surface.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein said base includes a surface engaging portion, which portion is generally annular.

3. The tool of claim 1 or 2, wherein said base is circular in configuration so that said peripheral surface is also circular.

4. The tool of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said handle has a longitudinal axis which is spaced from the axis of said object, with the axis of said handle being generally parallel to the axis of said projection.

5. The tool of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said tool is at least partly formed of iron 20 to be attracted to a magnet.

6. In combination the tool of claim 5 and a magnetic holding device providing said support with said surface, with said holding device magnetically attracting said tool to urge said tool into contact with said surface.