US2832284A - Friction-operated package coding devices - Google Patents

Description

April 29, 1958 A. J. FARKAS 2,832,284

FRICTION-OPERATED PACKAGE CODING DEVICES Filed Jan. 17, 1956 INVEN TOR. ALFRED 1/ flm ms 1/16 ATTflRNEYs United Stats FRICTION-OPERATED PACKAGE CODING DEVICES Alfred J. Farkas, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 17, 1956, Serial No. 559,569

2 Claims. (Cl. 101-411) the stamping unit thereof which comprises a plurality of continuous, elastic ribbons having raised indicia thereon for printing or stamping dates or codes upon packages, together with means for rotating each ribbon independently, is incorporated in the structure of such device in a manner such that great inconvenience and unnecessary 3 labor is required to remove the stamping unit for repair or replacement purposes. To repair or replace such stamping unit, of which there may be a plurality, it is necessary to practically disassemble the entire device to expose the stamping units for removal as well as replacement.

My invention has for one of its important objects the provision of a simple and inexpensive arrangement whereby each stamping unit may be quickly and easily removed and replaced without disassembling any part of the device and without the necessity of the use of any tools whatsoever. The advantages of such arrangement will be ap preciated when it is considered that frequently in use the indicia-bearing ribbons become worn or cracked or worn to a state where they eventually break. In devices prior to the advent of my invention, it is necessary in order to remove the stamping unit to call upon a mechanic, requiring considerable labor and skill on his part as well as the use of tools, to disassemble the device to expose the stamping unit for removal and replacement. My invention eliminates such labor.

Another object of my invention is to provide an arrangement for stabilizing the stamping unit carrying disc during its rotation by the engagement of traction discs positioned on opposite sides of the stamping unit carrying disc, with the moving packages to rotate the device to successively bring the stamping units into printing engagement with the packages. By such arrangement, blurring of the indicia stamped or printed upon the packages by the device is eliminated. By reason of the inherent nature of my improved construction, the type of the stamping units will be properly positioned with respect to the peripheral edge of the stamping unit supporting disc, with the type of each unit projecting the same radial distance from the long axis of such disc, thereby to assure uniform printing by each stamping unit upon the moving packages engaged by the type.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved package coding device showing the same mounted in relation to a row of moving packages;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the stamping unit assembly embodied in my invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the stamping units embodied in my invention;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the same;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the stamping unit supporting disc.

The present invention constitutes an improvement over that disclosed in my pending application, Serial No. 535,166 filed September 19, 1955 for Letters Patent on friction-operated package coding devices.

As shown in my prior application above referred to and as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings of this application, lltl indicates a platform or bed which supports a traveling belt 11 or the like, which belt supports the packages 13 to be moved along the platform 10, the belt having suitable followers 14 or the like engaging each of the packages 13 to impart a continuous movement to such packages.

My improved package coding device is indicated generally at 15 (Fig. 1). It comprises an enclosure 16 within which is arranged upon a shaft 1'7 an inking roller similar to that shown in my prior application hereinbefore referred to. Such inking roller is not shown in this present application as it constitutes no part of the present invention. The enclosure 16 is supported by side plates 18 spaced from each other by suitable spacing bolts 19. The side plates 13 at corresponding end portions 20 are connected in any suitable manner for movement about a rod 21. By a clamping device 22 similar to that shown in my prior application, such rod 21 is adjustably mounted on a post 23 in turn adjustably connected as at 24 to the underside of the platform 10.

Thecorresponding end portions of the plates 25 have parallel slots 26 formed therein in which the end portions of a shaft 27 are adjustably positioned and secured in an adjusted position with respect to the enclosure 16 by clamping nuts 27. On this shaft 27 is mounted the stamping assembly indicated generally in Fig. l at 28. This stamping assembly or stamping wheel comprises a circular stamp unit carrying plate 29 mounted on the shaft 2'7 for rotation relative thereto. On opposite sides of the plate 29 and in spaced relation with respect thereto are traction discs 30. These discs 30 by means of bolts 31 are fixedly connected to the plate 29 for rotation therewith. These traction discs 30 have their peripheral edges 32 knurled to assure a traction grip with the adjacent top surface of the packages 13. The side plates 13 being mounted on the shaft 21 for movement relative thereto,

5 will allow these traction discs 30 to bear upon the top walls of the packages 13. By such an arrangement, as the packages 13 are moved relative to the platform 10, they will by reason of their engagement with the traction discs 3t), impart rotation to the plate 29, with the result that the stamping units carried by the plate 29 will he successively brought into printing or stamping engagement with respect to the top walls of the packages 13 as the latter are moved relative to the platform 10.

Formed in the plate .29, substantially at right angles with respect to each other and opening radially with respect to the long axis of the plate 29 are slots 33. The base of these slots 33 each provide a notch 34. in each of these slots 33 is removably mounted a stamping unit indicated generally at 35. Each of these stamping units comprises a frame 36 bent substantially U-shaped to provide a base plate 37 and opposite parallelly extending arms 38. Secured to the outer end portion of the arms 38 in any suitable manner is an arcuate bar 39, the outer long surface of which defines a degree of curvature which is substantially of the same degree as that of the plate v29. By this arrangement the outer surface of each of said bars 39 will be in thesarne plane as the peripheral edge tlof thexplate 29. Carried by the arms 38 of each stamping unit and extending thcrebetween is a shaft 41. On this shaft 41 are rotatably mounted in aligned relation with respect'to each other, drums 42. Each drum 42 haszan operating disc-43 associated therewith, with the peripheral edge thereof knurled as at -3 to provide a frictional engagement between the fingers and the disc 4-3, whereby to facilitate rotation of the drum to move continuous ribbonlike type-bearing tapes 45 which extend around the drums 42 and over the bar 39, as best shown in 'Figs. 3 and 4.

The baseplate 37 fixedly carries a U-shaped clip 46. Each of these arms 38 of each stamping unit 35 has secured thereto an elongated guide bar 47 which is substantially U-shaped in cross section. Each stamping unit is mounted in a slot '33 of the plate 29 with the adjacent edge portions 48 of the plate defining such slot received in the channel of the guide bars 47, which bars may frictionally engage .the plate 29 at its edge portions 48 during the movement of frictionally clamping the clip 46 to the plate 29 adjacent its hub portion 49. Each clip 56 is substantially U-shaped to provide opposite fingers 50, the outer ends of which are closely positioned with respect to each other to provide a mouth 51 which receives the plate portion 29 adjacent the hub portion 4-9. To facilitate moving the clip into frictional engagement with the plate 29, the base edge 52 of the notch 34 is beveled in opposite directions. By this arrangement, when the mouth of the clip engages the beveled edge portion 52, the fingers 54) will be slightly forced apart so.that when the clip is fully positioned upon the plate 29 adjacent its hub portion, such fingers will frictionally engage the plate 29 and firmly hold the stamping unit in place upon the plate 29. Should it be found necessary, the guide bars 47 likewise may be so arranged to frictionally engage the edge portions 48 of the plate 29.

To facilitate grasping each of the stamping units 35 for removal or replacement purposes, there is provided in each of the traction discs 30 adjacent each stamping unit, openings 53 of sufiicient diameter to permit the stamping unit to be grasped between the thumb'and at least two fingers of thehand. When thus grasped, the stamping unit'may be quickly and easily removed from mounted position upon the plate 29. In such removal, it will be noted that no tools or other instruments are required.

To complete the invention, each of the bars 39 is provided in its top surface with transverse grooves 54, in which grooves the ribbonlike type-bearing strips or tapes 4-5 are mounted.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that l have provided in a package coding device a simple arrangement for facilitating-the mounting and removal of each stmaping unit without the use of tools and without the necessity of disassembling any part of the device. Each stamping unit is retained in its respective slot 33 by the guide bars 47 and by its respective spring clip 46.

The construction herein described is relatively simple, resulting in economical manufacture of the device. In the removal of each stamping unit, the movement of the same relative to the, plate is in a direction radially with respect to the long axis of the plate 29.

By employing traction wheels on opposite sides of and in spaced relation with respect to the stamping unit carrying plate 29, the plate 29 is stabilized to avoid blurring or otherwise rendering illegible the printing of the stamping units upon the packages.

The device may be formed of such material as will best serve the purpose.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as newand desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A package coding device comprising a circular stamping unit supporting member, a traction disc fixed to and at one side of said member and adapted to engage a surface of a moving package to impart rotation to said member, said supporting member having a slot formed therein and opening radially from the long axis of the member with the base of the slot having a notch formed therein, a stamping unit positioned in the slot and having a U-shaped spring clip inserted through said slot for frictional engagement with said member, and guiding channels on opposite sides of the stamping unit in which frictionally project the opposite edge portions of the supporting member defining said slot, said guiding channels and said clip cooperating with the sides and the notched base of the slot for preventing-lateral'displacement of said stamping unit from said member due to the rotational movement of the latter.

2. A package coding device comprising a circular stamping unit supporting member, a traction disc fixed to and at one side of said member and adapted to engage a surface of a moving package to impart rotation to said member, said supporting member having slots formed therein and opening radially from the long axis of the member with the base of the slots having a notch formed therein, stamping units positioned in the slots and having a U-shaped spring clip inserted through said slots for frictional engagement with said member, and guiding channels on opposite sides of the stamping units into which frictionally project the opposite edge portions of the supporting member defining said slots, said guiding channels and said clip coperating with the sides and the notched base of the slot for preventing lateral displacement of said stamping units from said member due to the rotational movementof the latter, said stamp ing units being of such a size so as to have their bases in facial abutment with the bases of said slots when the said clips and said guiding channels of each unit is in engagement with said member and cooperating together to prevent lateral displacement of said units from said member due to the rotational movement of the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,031,447 Hohenberger July 2, 1912 1,285,884 Yinger Nov. 26, 1918 1,506,985 Melind Sept. 2, 1924 1,562,697 Greer Nov. 24, 1925 1,668,918 Lotz May 8, 1928 2,634,676 McKay Apr. 14, 1953 2,716,379 Pitt Aug. 30, 1955

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