US2986994A - Marking machine attachment - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. c/OhW L Hams/=51? 6'15)? Al'fO/P/V) J V HAUNSPERGER MARKING MACHINE ATTACHMENT June 6, 1961 Filed April 21, 1960 June 6, 1961 Filed April 21, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 3 3a 34 [J I M W F 16' 4 4 7 12 23 22 3a INVENTOR.

30 24 14 39 (Ja/m/L HAUMSPERGf/P ATTORNEY United States Patent i 2,986,994 MARKING MACHINE ATTACHMENT John V. Haunsperger, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assignor to Lefebure Corporation, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 23,822 6 Claims. (Cl. 101-101) The present invention pertains to marking machines, particularly to an operating attachment for certain types, hereafter described, of normally hand-operated marking machines.

A well-known variety of marking machine, of the comparatively small, hand-operated type, employs basically an upright inverted U-shaped frame and a marking head vertically movable between the upright frame members by means of a hand-operated plunger atop the horizontal portion of the frame. The marking head itself usually comprises a series of coaxial dials, each carrying numers, letters or other symbols embossed about its outer periphery. The dials are individually rotatable by wellknown means so as to permit alignment of a selection of symbols, one from each dial, at the bottom of the head, whereby after being inked the selection can be moved by a downward stroke of the plunger against a spring into contact with whatever is placed beneath the head to be marked.

In the type of these machines with which the present invention is concerned the inking is achieved by an ink saturated pad disposed and operated so that when the plunger is at the top of its stroke the pad bears against the selection of symbols then in marking position upon the head. When the latter is moved downwards by the plunger, an appropriate linkage swings the pad to one side out of the way of the descending head. Since the pad is in contact with the symbols on the dials when the plunger is at the top of its stroke, rotation of the dials to change the settings thereof causes them to rub on the pad, which, if permitted for long, will shortly wear it out. For this reason it is usually recommended, if not required, for long life of the ink pad, to push down slightly on the plunger in order to swing the pad a little away from the head so that the dials can be rotatedwithout injury to the pad. This is not particularly inconvenient if only sporadic use is made of the machine; however, if substantial or prolonged use is required, holding down the plunger slightly for each change of setting of the dials becomes very onerous and greatly impairs the efficiency and speed of the operator.

The present invention is thus directed to an attachment which not only supports the machine rigidly upright upon a base but automatically withholds contact between the dials and the ink pad at the end of each operation so that changes in setting can easily and speedily be made by the operator. Contact is then withheld until the machine is put into operation for the next imprinting. This result is achieved essentially by a vertically extending bracket attached to the plunger and movable therewith and a sear which on the return stroke of the plunger engages a lip on the bracket to prevent completion of the return stroke, thus avoiding contact between the dials and the ink pad. A hand crank, having a dog rotatable with the shaft portion thereof, engages the sear when the crank is rotated and releases the bracket so that the head can complete its return stroke and the ink pad contact the dials. Continued rotation of the crank then causes a cam, also rotatable with the shaft portion of the crank, to engage the bracket and impart a downward stroke to it and the plunger. A suitable spring or other means then returns the crank, thus permitting return of the plunger until it is once again arrested by the sear.

Accordingly, the primary object of the present inven tion is the provision of an attachment for a hand operated marking machine of the type described which prevents contact between the ink pad and the marking head, in order to permit individual adjustment of the symbolcarrying dials thereof, until the machine is operated to move the head into marking contact.

A further object is the provision of an attachment for machines of the type described which automatically arrests the return stroke of the marking head, thence operates first to release the marking head, permitting contact between the ink pad and the marking symbols on the dial, and finally moves the head into marking contact.

An additional object of the present invention is an attachment for machines of the type described employing a sear to arrest the return movement of the marking head and a hand crank operated dog and cam which cooperate first to release the sear and then, after the head has completed its return movement, to move the head into marking contact.

Other and further objects of the present invention will appear from the description of the preferred form thereof 'which follows, read in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective, rear quarter view showing the attachment as applied to a standard type of hand operated marking machine;

FIGURE 2 is a section view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1 showing the relative positions of the machine and the attachment at one stage of its operation;

FIGURE 3 is a view like that of FIGURE 2 but showing the machine and the attachment at a further stage of its operation; and

FIGURE 4 is a view like FIGURE 2 but showing the machine and attachment at a still further stage of its operation.

In order to facilitate understanding of the invention, reference is made to the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive language is employed. It will, nevertheless, be noted that no limitation of the invention is thereby intended and that various changes and alterations are contemplated such as would ordinarily occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Turning now to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 designates generally a marking machine of the type for which the present invention is designed. Machine 10 is composed essentially of an upright inverted U shaped frame 11 between which is a vertically movable marking head 12 having a row of dials 13 coaxially mounted at 14 and carrying symbols embossed upon their peripheries. Dials 13 each have an adjacent coaxial gear portion which is engaged by a row of correspondingly positioned sector gears (not shown) coaxially mounted on shaft 15. The sector gears are rotated to set dials 13 by means of fingers '16 which protrude through varcuate slots 17 in escutcheon 18. The latter is engraved at the side of each slot 17 with a column of numbers or other symbols corresponding with those on dials 13 when in marking alignment at the bottom of the head. Head 12 is carried at the lower end of a plunger 19 vertically movable through the horizontal portion of frame 11 and is biased toward its upper position by a compressible helical spring 20 encompassing plunger 19 between frame 11 and a hand knob (not shown) which is usually stop plunger 19. Herein the uppermost position of plunger 19 and head 12 will be referred to as their initial position and their downward and upward movements as their printing stroke and their return stroke, respectively.

Ink pad 21 or similar means is carried between the upright side members of frame 11 by means of two pairs of identical linkages at each end, each pair having an arm 2-2 rigidly secured to pad 21 at its forward edge and extending laterally therefrom to be pivoted to the inner face of frame 111 at 23 and a link 24 pivoted both to pad 21 at 25 and to the end plates of head 12 at 14. Appropriately arranged, this linkage causes pad 21 to be pressed into contact with dials 13 when head 12 and plunger 19 are at their initial position (see FIG- URE 3) and to be swung to one side out of the path of head 12 as the latter descends on its printing stroke (see FIGURE 4).

The attachment itself comprises a pair of horizontal mounting blocks 30 having crank bosses 31 at their rearward ends and steps 32 cut in their lower surfaces commencing just forward of bosses 31. The under surfaces of the latter in turn are secured to base plate 33 so that blocks 30 are parallel to each other and spaced to receive the lower ends of frame 11 secured flush with steps 32 in rabbets in the inner faces of blocks 30 at their forward ends. A bracket 34 is provided having a tongue 35 which, after the removal of the operating knob (not shown) atop plunger 19, fits over the latter and is rigidly secured thereto. Bracket 34 extends vertically down the back of frame 11 and head 12 and is provided its other end with a flat surfaced arm 36 extending rearwardly to between bosses 31 and sufliciently above base 33, when plunger 19 is in its initial position, so that arm 36 does not impede the printing stroke of head 12. The rear end of arm 36 is formed into an upwardly inclined lip 37 which is engageable with a downwardly inclined lip of sear 38 journaled at its midpoint on a shaft 39 extending between the rear ends of blocks 30 and to the rear of the vertical path of lip 37. The positions of lip 37 and sear 38 are also so related that the latter extends forwardly and upwardly to engage the former and arrest the return stroke of head 12 before pad 21 contacts dials 13. The other end of sear 38 is received within one end of a compressible coil spring 40, the other end of which is seated in base 33.

A cam 41 having upper and lower flanks is fixed to the shaft portion 42 of operating crank 43 journaled in bosses 31 above sear 38. Cam 41 is located on shaft 42 so that its flanks extend radially therefrom sufiicient for the lower one to engage arm 36, when crank 43 is rotated in direction A (FIGURE 1) and impart a complete printing stroke to head 12. A rearwardly extending tang 44 is arranged on bracket 34 above and spaced from arm 36 to be contact by the upper flank of cam 41, when crank 43 is rotated in direction B (FIGURE 1), throughout the complete return stroke of head 12. A helical spring 45 encompasses shaft 42 and is secured in torsion to cam 41 and one of bosses 31 so that it biases cam 41 against tang 44. Integral with cam 41 is a dog 46, inclined downwardly from shaft 42 just forward of scar 38 when the latter is engaged with lip 37, so that rotation thereof in direction A by crank 43 engages nose 47 on sear 38 to release arm 36 before further rotation of crank 43 in the same direction causes the lower flank of cam 41 to contact and move head 12 downwards.

The operation of the attachment in conjunction with marking machine will be largely apparent from the preceding description so that only a brief resum is required. Beginning with position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 with the return stroke of plunger 19 arrested by engagement of lip 37 and sear 38, it will be seen that accordingly ink pad 21 is withheld slightly from contact with dials 13, thus permitting the latter freely to be reset by the operator by means of fingers 16. As the operator then rotates crank 43 in direction A, dog 46 disengages sear 38 from lip 37, whereupon spring 20 causes plunger 19 to complete its return movement and ink pad 2 1 to contact dials 13. Continued movement of crank 43 in direction A brings the lower flank of cam 41 into con- 19 downwards to bring head 12 into printing contact with whatever item is positioned beneath the latter in steps 32. Upon completion of the printing stroke, crank 43 is released causing spring 45 to rotate crank 43 in direction B, thus engaging the upper flank of cam 41 with tank 44, whereupon head 12 moves upward until its return is arrested again by engagement .of lip 37 with sear 3B, the latter, owing to spring 40 having returned after passage of dog 46 thereover to intersect the vertical path lip 37, The machine is then ready for a further setting of dials 13 and another printing stroke.

I claim:

1. An attachment for use with a marking machine of the kind having a marking head including a plurality of individually adjustable members each carrying marking elements positioned thereon so that individual adjustment of said members will provide a selection of elements capable of marking material by simultaneous contact therewith, said head having predetermined movements operative to cause said head and selection thereon to move toward and mark said material and then to return therefrom, and pad means operatively associated with said first means to contact and ink said selection of elements when said head is at the end of its return movement, said attachment comprising a mount securable to said machine to maintain it in operable position relative to material to be marked, means to arrest the complete return movement of said head, said means including an arresting lip member attachable to and movable with said head and a scar on said mount adapted both to engage said lip member during return movement of said head to prevent full completion thereof and then to be disengageable from said lip member to allow completion of said return movement, and means carried by said mount and operable first to disengage said sear and lip member and then to impart said marking movement to said head after the latter has completed its return movement.

2. An attachment for use with a marking machine of the kind having a marking head including a plurality of individually adjustable members each carrying marking elements positioned thereon so that individual adjustment of said members will provide a selection of elements capable of marking material by simultaneous contact therewith, said head having predetermined movements operative to cause said head and selection thereon to move toward and mark said material and then to return therefrom, and pad means operatively associated with said first means to contact and ink said selection of elements when said head is at the end of its return movement, said attachment comprising a mount securable to said machine to maintain it in operable position relative to material to be marked, means to arrest the complete return movement of said head, said means including an arresting lip member attachable to and movable with said head and a sear on said mount adapted both to engage said lip member during return movement of said head to prevent full completion thereof and then to be disengageable from said lip member to allow completion of said return movement, a release dog adapted to cause said disengagement of said sear and lip member, and means carried by said mount and operable first to operate said dog as aforesaid and thento impart said marking movement to said head after the latter has completed its return movement.

3. An attachment for use with a marking machine of the kind having a marking head including a plurality of individually adjustable members each carrying marking elements positioned thereon so that individual adjustment of said members will provide a selection of elements capable of marking material by simultaneous contact therewith, said head having predetermined movements operative to cause said head and selection thereon to move toward and mark said material and then to return there-.

' from, and pad means operativelyassociated with said head to contact and ink said selection of elements when tact with arm 36, moving it, bracket 34 and plunger said head is at the end of its return movement, said attachment comprising a mount securable to said machine to maintain it in operable position relative to material to be marked, means to arrest the complete return movement of said head, said means including an arresting lip member attachable to and movable with said head and a scar journaled on said mount and adapted both to engage said lip member during return movement of said head to prevent full completion thereof and then to be disengageable from said lip member to allow completion of said return movement, a release dog journaled on said mount and rotatable to cause said disengagement of said seat and lip member, and means to operate said dog as aforesaid and then to impart said marking movement to said head after the latter has completed its return movement, said means including an operating arm attachable for movement with said head, said arm extending in a transverse direction with respect to the direction of said movements of said head, and a cam journaled on said mount and rotatable with said dog having a flank adapted to engage said arm to import said movement thereto after said head has completed its return movement.

4. An attachment for use with a hand operated marking machine of the kind having a marking head including a plurality of individually adjustable members each carrying marking elements positioned thereon so that individual adjustment of said members will provide a selection of elements capable of marking material by simultaneous contact therewith, said head being hand operated and having predetermined movements operative to cause said head and selection thereon to move toward and mark said material and then to return therefrom, and pad means operatively associated with said first means to contact and ink said selection of elements when said head is at the end of its return movement, said attachment comprising a mount securable to said machine to maintain it in operable position relative to material to be marked, means to arrest the complete return movement of said head, and hand operated means operable first to release said arresting means and then to impart said marking movement to said head after the latter has completed its return movement, said means including a hand crank having its shaft portion journaled on said mount and a cam mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith, said cam having a flank operably associated with said head to impart said marking movement thereto.

5. An attachment for use with a hand operated marking machine of the kind having a marking head including a plurality of individually adjustable members each carrying marking elements positioned thereon so that individual adjustment of said members will provide a selection of elements capable of marking material by simultaneous contact therewith, said head being hand operated and having predetermined movements operative to cause said head and selection thereon to move toward and mark said material and then to return therefrom, and pad means operatively associated with said first means to contact and ink said selection of elements when said head is at the end of its return movement, said attachment comprising a mount securable to said machine to maintain it in operable position relative to material to be marked; means to arrest the complete return movement of said head, and hand operated means operable first to release said arresting means and then to impart said marking movement to said head after the latter has completed its return movement,

said means including an operating arm attachable to said head for movement therewith, said arm extending in a transverse direction with respect to the direction of said movements of said head, a hand crank having its shaft portion journaled on said mount, and a cam mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith, said cam having a flank adapted to engage said arm to impart said movement thereto after said head has completed its return movement.

6. An attachment for use with a hand-operated marking machine of the kind having a marking head movable with respect to a U-shaped stationary frame, said head including a plurality of adjacent coaxial dials each individually rotatable about their common axis and carrying around its periphery marking elements positioned thereon so that individual rotation of said dials will provide an aligned selection of elements capable of marking material by simultaneous contact therewith, said head and frame having predetermined movements operative to cause said head and selection thereon to move toward and mark said material and then to return therefrom, a plunger movable with said head and with respect to said frame, and an ink pad operatively associated with said first means to contact and ink said selection of elements when said head is at the end of its return movement, said attachment comprising a pair of mounting blocks securable one to each side of said frame to concurrently extend therefrom in spaced relation to each other in order to maintain said machine in operable position relative to material to be marked, an operating bracket attachable to said plunger for said movements therewith, said bracket having extending concurrently therefrom in a transverse direction with respect to the movement thereof a return tang and an operating arm spaced therefrom, said tang and arm having opposed operating surfaces extending thereon transversely with respect to the movement of said bracket and said arm having an arresting lip at its extremity, an arresting sear journaled between said blocks and adapted to engage said lip and arrest said plunger and bracket before the latter have completed their return movement, said sear being biased toward its engaged position and movable to disengage said lip and permit completion of said return movement of said plunger and bracket, a hand crank having a release dog secured to its shaft portion and rotatable therewith, said dog being adapted, when said sear is engaged with said lip, to cause said disengagement thereof when said crank is rotated in one direction, a cam integral with said dog and rotatable therewith having opposite outwardly facing flanks extending from said shaft to between said tang and arm, one of said flanks being engageable with said surface of said tang throughout the entire return movement of said plunger and the other of said flanks being adapted to engage said surface of said arm to impart said marking movement to said plunger after both said dog has disengaged said sear and lip and said plunger and head have completed their return movement, said sear and crank being journaled between said blocks, and means urging rotatable movement of said crank in the other direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 960,029 Merrick May 31, 1910

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