EP0050980A1 - Machine à tamponner à mouvement alternatif - Google Patents

Machine à tamponner à mouvement alternatif Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0050980A1
EP0050980A1 EP81305034A EP81305034A EP0050980A1 EP 0050980 A1 EP0050980 A1 EP 0050980A1 EP 81305034 A EP81305034 A EP 81305034A EP 81305034 A EP81305034 A EP 81305034A EP 0050980 A1 EP0050980 A1 EP 0050980A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
imprinting
head
imprinting head
type holder
type
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP81305034A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Burton L. Siegal
Jay S. Waxman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Kiwi Coders Corp
Original Assignee
Kiwi Coders Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US06/200,913 external-priority patent/US4365554A/en
Priority claimed from US06/285,444 external-priority patent/US4419931A/en
Application filed by Kiwi Coders Corp filed Critical Kiwi Coders Corp
Publication of EP0050980A1 publication Critical patent/EP0050980A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F17/00—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
    • B41F17/24—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing on flat surfaces of polyhedral articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/26—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for marking or coding completed packages

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to article imprinting apparatus for imprinting information upon packages, cartons and the like as they travel successively spaced along the reach of a conveyor. More particularly, there is provided an improved impact type reciprocating imprinting apparatus which is more durable and versatile and less costly to fabricate, assemble and maintain than prior devices, which enables the employment of pre-inked ink cartridges and markededly increases the useful life thereof by having means for effecting sealing off of the cartridges during all but the actual imprinting stroke of the apparatus.
  • the apparatus provided by the invention includes an imprinting head carrying a biased releasably mounted type holder on which type font can be secured.
  • An effective seal is established between the imprinting head and a disposable inking cartridge to prevent evaporative loss from the cartridge, except during the momentary translation of the head along a path leading to an angularly displaced imprinting location whereat the imprinting is performed.
  • Drive and guide (idler) linkage means are provided to direct the imprinting head along said path in an imprinting stroke and a return stroke to resume the sealed engagement.
  • Known devices capable of imprinting information upon surfaces of packages, cartons and the like conveyed spaced along a given path along the reach of the conveyor generally are of complex construction with accompanying expense of manufacture, fabrication, assembly and maintenance.
  • Two major types or devices are empioyea in imprinting indicia on packages and the like.
  • One type of device includes a rotary imprinting wheel on which the type font can be mounted for repeated inking by rotary ink transfer means to which ink is supplied from a source thereof, the imprinting wheel intercepting the article to be imprinted.
  • the second major type of imprinting apparatus involves stamping or impacting inked type face means repeatedly upon successively arriving articles.
  • type face means is supplied with ink by impacting the type.face means upon an ink saturated pad or the like, usually supplied by some storage means such as cartridge or the like, which include an ink impervious body having a window through which access to the ink impregnated pad is enabled.
  • the invention herein is concerned with the repeatable impact type imprinting apparatus involves substantial frequency of required maintenance, and particularly the short life of the inking means employed. Frequent and time-consuming ink cartridge replacement is the rule. One reason for such short cartridge useful life may be attributed to the unusually fast.drying character of the ink employed. These highly volatile inks evaporate rapidly, usually depleting the ink pad after only a short time or leaving an inking surface which quickly becomes hard and dry, preventing the normal cappilarity effect to resupply the surface of the pad. This phenomenon is encountered where the ink supply takes the form of an ink-saturated absorbent pad disposed within a disposable cartridge having access window means to accommodate the printing head. Often, the skin formed.by solvent evaporation is hard whereby ink is . unevenly applied to the type font, or at least, is . insufficient to effect uniform marking of the package, etc.
  • the imprinting head is disposed substantially longer at the rest condition; engaged against the inking pad surface.
  • the translation of the imprinting head to the imprinting location and application of the imprint occupies minimal time and requires little exposure of the inking pad. Nevertheless, substantial reduction of the effectiveness of the inking means results since evaporation, etc. occurs while the type holder (carried by the imprinting head) is engaged with the inking pad of the ink storing cartridge.
  • the ink-saturated pad is generally resilient because of its saturated condition and the character of the ink absorbent material used to form the pad.
  • the area of engagement of the imprinting head as well as the surface of the head engaging the pad is sometimes so resilient as to fail to establish an effective seal.
  • the type holder seated on the imprinting head and effectively constituting same also is not well suited to make a proper seal with the ink-saturated pad or its surrounding border defining lining member, where provided. Accordingly, rapid evaporation of the fast drying ink still materially reduces the useful life of available cartridges requiring removal of the exhausted cartridge and replacement with a fresh cartridge. Often such premature disabling of the ink supply cartridges occurs many times during a normal (average) imprinting run regardless of the number of articles imprinted.
  • Still another difficulty encountered with a marking device such as described above involves the means employed to effect the translation of the imprinting head to the imprinting position and return. It is known to employ pivotable arms and the like to'mount an imprinting head for repeated movement. Ordinarily, these arms are coupled to a source of dynamic power, such as a fluid operated hydraulic or pneumatic system coupled through a signalling device to a drive arm, in turn secured to an imprinting head and /or to the mounting therefor.
  • Known drives cause the imprinting head to be translated from its rest condition to its angularly displaced position at the imprinting location, so that the imprinting head assumes an orientation with its center line perpendicular to the surface upon which imprinting is to be effected.
  • the return stroke often strongly impacts in the relatively soft, yieldable surface of the ink-saturated pad whereby to cause splashing of .ink fouling the apparatus, the imprinting head and carrier therefor, and often causing ink to be thrown outward, fouling the ambient surroundings.
  • Another way of reducing ink loss is to control the impact or contact pressure exercised by the imprinting head (the type face carried thereby) upon the saturated inking pad. Often one had to elect between a contact pressure at impact sufficient to assure proper inking and reduction of contact pressure to prevent splashing of ink.
  • the translation of the imprinting head between the pair of angularly displaced operating positions should be effected by mechanisms which are relatively simple in construction and are effective to assure proper orientation of the type carried by the imprinting head both on the ink saturated pad during the rest condition, and during the time period when momentarily displaced therefrom to effect application of the imprint.
  • Facility in servicing the imprinting apparatus also is a desirable feature not readily available with known imprinting devices of this type. Particularly, removability of both the inking cartridge and the type holder for replacement, change or reorientation would be highly desirable.
  • Another improvement desired over the known apparatus is to provide for adjustment of the imprint distance relative to article being imprinted so that the installation (mounting) of the imprinting apparatus need not be changed (raised or lowered), to compensate for small changes in height of the articles.
  • an article imprinting apparatus including an imprinting head carrying type font for applying an imprint to the surface of an object characterized by an inking cartridge having an exposed inking surface engageable by said type font during a rest condition, a drive for translating said imprinting head in an imprinting stroke and a return stroke between the rest condition and an imprinting position angularly displaced from the inking cartridge simultaneously rotating said imprinting head through approximately 90° of rotation, link members coupled between said drive and the imprinting head for effecting said translation, and a guide defining a path of travel for said imprinting head from a vertically oriented condition engaged with said inking surface to a horizontally oriented condition at the imprinting position and return and assuring proper orientation of said imprinting head at said rest condition and at the imprinting position respectively.
  • the invention further provides the apparatus characterized in that said link members comprise a drive linkage pivotally secured to the imprinting head and to a fluid pressure operated plunger, an idler link having first and second ends said first end being pivot-ally secured to said imprinting head at a location adjacent the securement of said drive linkage, a stationary mounting wirhin the apparatus for pivotally securing the second end of the idler link and secondary pivot mounting coupled to said drive linkage offset from the pivotal coupling of said drive linkage to said plunger, said drive linkage being actuatable by said plunger for effecting pivotal movement about said secondary pivot simultaneously with pivotal movement of the idler link.
  • said link members comprise a drive linkage pivotally secured to the imprinting head and to a fluid pressure operated plunger, an idler link having first and second ends said first end being pivot-ally secured to said imprinting head at a location adjacent the securement of said drive linkage, a stationary mounting wirhin the apparatus for pivotally securing the second end of the idler link and secondary pivot mounting coupled to said
  • the invention provides the apparatus characterized by said guide comprising a cam and follower defining a path for the imprinting head strokes which will cause. said h.ead to move at a substantially constant angular acceleration through the midpath. of the strokes, the rate of rotation being maximum at the midpaths of the strokes, the rate of rotation being maximum at the midpaths of the strokes and minimum adjacent the ends of the strokes.
  • the invention herein provides an intermittent impact type imprinting apparatus for applying imprint imformation upon a facing surface of packages, cartons, and the like conveyed spaced along a given-path along the reach of a conveyor.
  • An imprinting head is positioned adjustably for intermittent translation between a rest condition sealingly engaged with the surface of an ink saturated medium in the form of a removable pre-nked ink storing cartridge and an angularly spaced imprinting position effected by a signal-controlled pressurized fluid operated drive system so that the imprinting head contacts the surface of the article to be imprinted.
  • the imprinting head is translated between these two positions by a drive linkage coupled to said fluid operated system and is guided by a secondary linkage functioning as an idler linkage. Both linkages are independently pivotally journalled with the imprinting head to define a folding linkage.
  • the imprinting head includes a shuttle arm carrying shaft means to which the linkages are coupled.
  • the shuttle has a cam-shaped free end and an enlarged head carrying the type means. The free end is adapted to engage an intercepting guide member for assuring that the folding relationship of the link members of the folded linkage is such as to cause the center line of the shuttle to assume a vertically normal orientation ninety degrees from its orientation in the rest condition with the enlarged head end facing the imprinting location.
  • the enlarged head includes an outwardly opening socket which includes the cavity for receiving the type holder to enable limited biased movement thereof therein.
  • the type holder includes a base lock arrangement for securely holding type elements therein.
  • a resilient gasket may be secured, preferably by adhesive material, to the outer rim of the type holder for cooperating with sealing means surrounding the ink-saturated surface of the inking cartridge whereby to establish a sealing engagement therewith during the period while the imprinting head is at rest position.
  • Means are provided to seat the ink cartridge within the apparatus and adjustably to lock the same therewithin and to exert a controlled adjustable force thereupon.
  • the seal between the imprinting head and the ink cartridge also can be effected by providing a dished sealing plate or mask assembled with the ink cartridge in the imprinting apparatus.
  • the sealing mask has a window formed therein which is surrounded by an inner rim.
  • the mask is positioned with the inner rim seated closely proximate the exterior facing inking surface of the ink-saturated pad of the cartridge.
  • the type holder that is preferably, the gasket secured to the end of the type holder, engages the inner rim to establish the sealed engagement for the duration the imprinting head is at the rest position(condition)so that no evaporative loss of ink occurs. Effectively, a sealed chamber is formed wherein there is a solvent rich atmosphere about the type enabling the type to remain thereat for a considerable duration without loss due to evaporation.
  • the inking of the typ6 is improved considerably as a result. 4
  • the type holder is biased to enable the type holder to fly out inertially from the imprinting head when the latter is stopped in its translation to the rest condition by impacting upon the frame of the ink cartridge assembly, whereby to impact upon the ink saturated surface of the cartridge.
  • the sealing gasket impacts against the inner rim of the mask.
  • the type font clements carried by the base lock means provided on the type holder extend a fraction outward of the sealing surface so that the end surfaces of the type font are coated with sufficient ink yet overloading of the type font with ink is prevented. In addition, splashing of ink upon impact is materially reduced, if not prevented altogether.
  • FIGURE 1 the article imprinting apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention herein is designated generally by reference character 10 and is illustrated in FIGURE 1, mounted on the frame l2 of a conveyor 14 along which articles 16 travel in a direction indicated by the arrow 18 past said apparatus 10 to enable single imprinting of each with informational indicia.
  • the apparatus 10 is illustrated mounted on the horizontally oriented arm 20 of bent rod 22, with the vertically oriented arm 24 secured to the frame 12 by clamp 26.
  • Releasable clamp 30 effects the securement of the apparatus 10 to the arm 20 in operating condition and includes a clamping bracket 32 having a pair of generally parallel spaced arms 34 and 36, each including arcuate facing portions 38 to receive the rod arm 20 therebetween.
  • the arms 34 and 36 are capable of being urged together by a capped bolt 40,
  • a captive flat wrench 42 is retained on the capped bolt 40 by a washer 40' and snap ring 40" secured inward of the capped bolt 40.
  • the wrench 42 functions as a lever which can be utilized to release the rod arm 20 or to clamp same at a location assuring proper location of apparatus 10 for application of an imprint upon the surface 43 of the article 16.
  • Rod arm 22 also can carry an actuating lever 44 extending into the path of the article 16 in position to be tripped by the passage of the leading end of the article therepast.
  • the lever 44 is a one-shot actuator as will be described hereinafter and only initiates the imprinting operation, a return switch being incorporated within the apparatus.
  • the apparatus 10 comprises a housing 46 formed of a pair of mounting plates 48 and 50 which are arranged side by side, spaced apart and connected by transerve corner braces 52 and 54 seated in aligned apertures 56,58 formed in said plates 48 and 50 and secured thereto by screws 60. End wall 62 is secured in position between plates 48 and 50 by screws 64. Transverse brace 66 is secured between said plates 48 and 50 by screws 68 and bottom plate 70 is secured to the brace 66 by screw 72 whereby to define the housing 46.
  • the inner surfaces 74 and 76 of plates 48 and 50 carry coextensive, aligned, matching, horizontally oriented, facing grooves 78 and 80 parallel and adjacent the upper edges 82 and 84 of said plates 48,50 and extending about two thirds of the total length of said edges.
  • Grooves 74 and 76 open to end 86 of the respective plates 48 and 50 slidably to receive the edges of cover plate 88.
  • a pair of matching, facing, vertically oriented grooves 90 and 92 are formed in plate surfaces 74 and 76 opening to the upper edges 82 and 84 of said plates 48 and 50.
  • the inking cartridge assembly 94 is received within the housing 46 in chamber 96 defined between the grooves 90 and 92 and the end wall 62 by sliding the assembly 94 in grooves 90 and 92 until the inking cartridge assembly 94 seats on facing stop pins 98 set into said plate surfaces 74 and 76.
  • the inking cartridge assembly 94 comprises a holding frame 100, a sponge-like rectangular gasket 102 and an ink storing container 104, which is pre-inked and is commercially available.
  • Gasket 102 preferably is formed of a layer 106 formed of spongy material such as a closed- cell foam rubber or the like, and a thin layer 108 formed of ink impervious rubber-like sheet material adhered to layer 106.
  • the container 104 comprises a plastic molded, thin-walled, somewhat resilient box 109 having an entrance 110 and an outer rim 112 coextensive with said entrance 110 and surrounding same, and an inner rim 112
  • An ink-saturated pad 114 is disposed within the interior l16 of the box 108, preferably fully occupying the interior 116 thereof.
  • a sheet liner 118 is included across the top of the box to shield and seal off the entrance 110 preventing access to the interior pad 114 until assembly thereof into the cartridge unit 94 is desired.
  • the liner 118 usually is provided with a scored area, removal of which defines a window 120 to enable access to be gained to said ink-saturated pad surface but leaving a bordering portion between the inner rim 112' and the ink-saturated pad 114.
  • the window 120 may be of rectangular, circular or even ovalular configuration, depending upon the perimetric configuration of the imprint to be applied to the surface 44 of article 16 or the overall size and/or configuration of the particular surface 43 say, if the surface comprises a bottle cap or the like (not shown).
  • the gasket 102 is engaged upon the outer rim 112 of the container 104 and together, slidably are engaged within the frame 100 in the channel l22 defined by inner rim 124 and flanges 126 of said frame, as indicated by the broken line 128.
  • the cartridge assembly 94 now is complete and ready for installation into chamber 96.
  • a thin plate or mask 130 of generally rectangular dish-shaped configuration is installed along with the cartridge assembly 94 functioning as supplementary sealing means for establishing a sealed engagement between the imprinting head of the apparatus 10 and the ink saturated pad 114 of the cartridge 94.
  • Mask 130 carries a central recessed floor and a window 134 is formed in the recessed floor, leaving inwardly directed rim portion 132.
  • the mask 130 is seated on the frame holder 100 with the rim portion 132 engaged on the liner portion 118 closely adjacent the ink-saturated pad l14 and coextensively aligned with the window 120. Where the mask 130 is ued, it is fitted on the cartridge assembly 94 and both are introduced simultaneously into the chamber 96 by sliding the rim portion 132 and frame 100 into the grooves 90 and 92.
  • a holding structure 136 for retaining the cartridge assembly 94 in place within the chamber 96 is provided.
  • the holding structure 136 comprises a plate member 138 of generally rectangular configuration carrying a central recess 140 and an aperture 142 formed therewithin.
  • the plate 138 is smaller in area than the end wall 62 and is arranged parallel to the end plate 62.
  • An elongate threaded bolt 144 is received through aperture 142.
  • Washer l46 is placed at the free end 148 of bolt 144 and locked in place by lockwasher 150.
  • a retaining nut 1 52 is seated on the bolt 144 at the opposite side of plate member 138.
  • the bolt 144 is threadably engaged through passageway 154 and a retaining washer 156, including small diameter spacer ring 158, are engaged on said bolt 144.
  • the head 160 of the bolt 144 mounts a knob 162 including collar-164. Roation of the knob 162 will cause the plate to be moved away from the grooves 90 and 92, widening the space between the imprinting head and the plate 88 whereby the inking cartridge assembly 94 can be installed.
  • the plate member 138 can be brought to bear against the container 104.
  • the rotatable wheel 166 seated on threaded bolt 144 between the collar 164 and the plate member 1 3 8 functions to limit the extent of movement of the said plate member 138.
  • Plate member 138 can be moved translated by the manipulation of the knob 162 to facilitate the removal of a spent or exhausted cartridge assembly 94.and in particular, the replacement of an exhausted container 104 with a fresh replacement container.
  • the imprinting device designated generally by reference character 170 which is disposed within the housing 46 for movement between a pair of angularly displaced positions, namely, a rest position, whereat a sealed engagement with the ink saturated pad of the inking cartridge assembly 94 is established and an imprinting position along an arcuate path 90° offset from the rest position.
  • the imprinting device 170 as a unit comprises an elongate shuttle arm 172 having an enlarged head 174 with an outwardly opening cavity 176 formed therein.
  • the shuttle arm 172 is tapered at its free end 178 to terminate in a rounded cam-like end 180.
  • a pair or parallel passageways 182 are formed through the enlarged head 174 opening to the cavity 176 (as shown in FIGURE 8, for example).
  • Cap bolts 184 carry compression coil springs 186 and are seated in said passageways 182 and terminate secured in the T-bar 188 which has opposite flanges 190 unitary therewith.
  • the dimensions of the passageways 182 and the bolts 184 are selected to permit free movement of the bolts 184 in said passageways while limiting the coil springs 186 disposition between the caps 184' and the enlarged head 174.
  • the T-bar 188 normally is seated within the cavity 176 next adjacent the opening thereof.
  • Type holder 192 is formed of a generally rectangular hollow block 194 haying a rectangular secondary cavity 196 and flanged lug formations 198 extending outward from the surface of the block 194 opposite the cavity 196.
  • the flanged lug formations 198 are arranged to define 90° intersecting T-shaped slots 200 and 202, the intersection being at the center 204.
  • the T-bar 188 can be accommodated in either of slots 200 or 202 whereby to secure the type holder 192 to the enlarged head 174 of the shuttle 172.
  • a base-lock type support member 206 is seated securely within the cavity 196 of the type holder 192 and carries mounted therein, type font elements 208, there being rows of suitable slots for receiving the base of the type elements.
  • a resilient sealing gasket 210 is adhesively or otherwise secured tightly on the rim 212 of the type holder 192 coextensive with the cavity 196 thereof. The thickness of said gasket 210 is selected to be only slightly less than the outermost extent of the type font elements 208 when they are seated in the base lock element 206.
  • the gasket 210 serves multiple functions, namely, to cushion the shock of impact between the imprinting head 170 and the ink-saturated pad 114 or when provided, the inner rim portion 132 of mask 130. Gasket 210 also functions to cushion the shock of impact between the imprinting head 170 and the surface 44 of the article 16 when imprinting is performed at the end of the imprinting stroke, as will be explained.
  • the type font When the type font is to be changed or when the orientation of the message also is desired to be changed for different packaging applications, provision is made according to the invention, for facilitating establishment of access to the type holder 192 and is particular for removing the type holder 192 or changing its orientation, reassembling the type holder to the imprinting head 170.
  • the springs 186 are compressed by manipulation of the caps 184' of bolts 184 toward the enlarged head 174.
  • the caps 184' are urged against the bias of said springs 186 until the T-bar 188 is exposed outwrad of the cavity 176.
  • the type holder 192 can be disengaged easily from the T-bar 188 by sliding the holder 192 therefrom. Replacement of the type holder with one carrying a different type font.
  • the upstanding lug 214 formed on the enlarged head 174 functions to provide a purchase for the operator in grasping the cap 184' of cap screw 184 and urging the cap 184' against the bias of springs 186. Manipulation of only one of the caps 184' is required to provide clearance sufficient to permit release of the type holder 192.
  • the drive linkage comprises a pair of link members 216 and 218 each having outwardly extending arms 220 and 222 respectively. Socket arms 220 and 222 carry through passageways 224 and 226.
  • the shuttles arm 114 is provided with first and second passageways 228 and 230 in which bushings 232 and 234 are fitted.
  • a shaft 236 is journalled in the bushing 232. Socket arms 220 and 222 are seated on the ends of shaft 236.
  • Links 216,218 also are provided with enlarged end portions 238,240 carrying first through passageways 242 and 244 respectively located spaced inwardly of the ends 246,248 with the axes of this latter passageway being parallel to passageways 224 and 226.
  • Shaft 250 is mounted through said passageways 242 and 244 with the enlarged portions 238,240 in oppositely facing relationship.
  • the enlarged end portions 238,240 also are provided with second through passageways 252,254 positioned parallel to first passageways 242,244 and disposed between said first passageways and ends 246,248.
  • Shaft 256 is accommodated through bushings 258,260 seated in said second passageways with the opposite ends 262,264 thereof seated in bearings 266,268 carried by the housing plates 48,50,
  • the shaft 256 is maintained in fixed relationship within passageways 252,254, in bushings 258,260 of enlarged end portions 238,240 by set screws 269.
  • Lock washers 272 are employed to fix the spacing between portions 238,240 and center the linkage assembly and imprinting head 170 between plates 48,50,
  • Shaft 250 is provided with a median flat portion 270 carrying transverse passage 273 through which the free end 276 of plunger 278 of cylinder 280 is passed and secured by nuts 282 and 284.
  • the drive mechanism for the apparatus 10 is designated generally by reference character 286 and includes a fluid pressure operated cylinder 280 and the plunger 278 movable between fully withdrawn and fully extended conditions within said cylinder 280, a four-way valve 288 coupled between the cylinder 280 and the source of pressurized fluid (not shown).
  • the cylinder 280 is mounted fixedly to a rockable plate 290 provided with depending ears 292 and a depending flange 294. The threaded end 196 of the cylinder 280 is secured to the depending flange 294 of said plate 290.
  • the four way valve 288 is seated interior of the housing 46 adjacent the bottom plate 70 and is secured to the transverse bottom brace 66.
  • the valve body 298 of valve 288 is arranged generally parallel, and below, the cylinder 280.
  • Valve 288 is coupled to a source of fluid pressure (not shown) by tubing 300 secured to fitting 302.
  • the tubing 304 couples the cylinder 280 to the port 306 of the valve 288 by securement to the fitting 308 of said cylinder 280.
  • the fitting 310 is coupled to another port 312 of valve 288.
  • Ball switch 314 is disposed at the end of the valve body 298 opposite the fitting 302.
  • the ball switch 314 is illustrated in the condition assumed thereby when the imprinting head 170 has returned to its rest condition.
  • the drive link 216,218 is caused to pivot about the axis of shaft 250 through a part of the imprinting stroke until the imprinting head 174 is in the condition represented by the broken line representation 114'.
  • the guide link 215,217 carries apertures 316 and 318 adjacent opposite ends thereof, the link being journalled on shaft 320 seated in passage defined by bushing 234 in passageway 230, with the shaft ends 322 and 324 seated in aperture 316 and bearings 326 seated in apertures 318, in turn mounted to the plates 48,50.
  • the actuating lever 44 disposed in the path of the article 16 is tripped by the leading end of said article 16.
  • the interception of the article 16 by the actuating lever 44 operates the valve 288 to cause fluid pressure to be introduced into the cylinder 280 driving the plunger 278 outward of the cylinder 280.
  • the shuttle arm 172 is pivoted about shaft 236 directing the shuttle arm 172 along a path represented by an arc 328.
  • the arm 172 is forced by guide links to assume an angular disposition, bringing.end 180 upward until the axes of shafts 256,236,250 and 320 are in a straight line coincident with the center line of the shuttle 172.
  • the end 180 of arm 172 is intercepted by the resilient bumper 219 to force said end 180 upward and cause the guide links 215,217 to force the end 0 180 of said shuttle 172 to pivot upward about shaft 320, bringinc enlarged head 174 of printing head 170 directed downward toward, and until, said head 174 assumes a disposition where the center line of the shuttle arm 172-is normal to the window 3 30 formed in the bottom plate 70.
  • the window 3 30 has dimensions slightly less than that of the type holder 192 so that the imprinting head 174 will be directed, during imprinting, toward the window 330 and will impact upon said plate 70 surrounding said window 330.
  • the type holder 192 flies out slightly after impact against the sourrounding plate and hence the type engages the surface to be imprinted.
  • the type holder 192 is propelled out of the enlarged end a small distance as an inertial response to sudden cessation of movement.
  • the inked type 208 carried by the type holder 192 is caused therefore, to kiss the surface 43 of the article 16 to be imprinted whereby not to damage same.
  • the resilient gasket 210 absorbs the shock of engagement with the surface 44 and also functions to enable the orientation of type holder 192 to be self-adjusted so as to compensate for minor surface irregularities of surface 44 as well as to compensate for minor height differences so long as the surface 44 to be ' imprinted is disposed spaced from the imprinting head within the range of extension of said type font 208 - carried by the type holder 192.
  • the bolt head 33-2 carried thereby, is rotated sufficiently to signal the end of the one-shot imprinting cycle by impinging upon the ball switch 314 when the imprinter head 170 has delivered the imprint. Striking of the ball switch 314 by the bolt head 332 initiates a return movement of the plunger 27 8 and hence initiates the return stroke to bring the imprinting head 170, and particularly the type holder 192, back to its sealed relationship with cartridge assembly 94.
  • the clamp 30 is assembled to the apparatus 10 by securement to a circular disc 334 seated on one of the mounting plates 48,50 of housing 46 depending on the side of the conveyor the apparatus is desired to be stationed.
  • the disc. 334 is held to the plates 48 or 50 by symmetrically positioned screws 336 carrying slotted washers 338 so that there is a three point coupling. The loosening of said screws 338 enable the apparatus 10 to be rotated to any angular orientation desired, whereupon the screws 33 are tightened,
  • the disc 334. may be removed from the plate 48 and reassembled on the opposite plate 50 if desired.
  • the imprinting apparatus is adjustable for height. and overhang, can be installed on either side of the conveyor within appreciable downtime, and can be rotated through any angular disposition relative to the conveyor.
  • the apparatus is versatile, more durable than prior imprinting devices of the intermittent impact type, enables longer useful life for the inking cartridges in view of the improved sealing effect obtained and, as well, includes an improved means for controlling the normal stroke of the imprinting head 170 with added selective hyper-extension to gain access to the type holder 192 for removal and/or replacement thereof, as well as to change its orientation without the use of tools.
  • a corner brace alone can be substituted to Intercept the shuttle to force the same to move in the desired path for reaching the desired orientation at the imprinting position.
  • a spring finger mounted at the brace or upon the end of the shuttle can suffice to guide the movement of the imprinting head and prevent folding of the linkages causing misalignment of the imprinting head or other interference with the desired shuttle path during the imprinting and/or return strokes.
  • the actuating lever 44 may be replaced by electronically operated sensing means, for example, such as a proximity dector, a photo ⁇ ll, etc, which is activated by the presence of an article at or coming to the imprinting location,
  • the imprinting head at its rest or loading condition is oriented at a ninety degree angle relative horizontals
  • the head is driven through a path toward an offse.t printing location angularly rotating through 90 ' in the course of its Simultaneous movement. to its imprinting location
  • the idler link provided by the referenced structure follows a path whereby the angular rate of rotation decreases until the. mid point of the path is reached and then increases until the. terminus of its printing stroke is reached,
  • the type holder is spring biased so that it is in.ertially driven outward of the head on the sudden cessation. of movement of the imprinting head at the imprinting terminus of said path,
  • the movement of the imprinting head through the imprinting stroke angularly is misdirected so that the orientatin of the type holder may be misoriented at the impact location
  • the head also may be held up at the mid-.point of travel, misoriented, inverted, or simply stuck thereat as the rate of travel and the angular rotation, i.e., the ship -- is at its least.
  • a resilient bumper is suggested in the referenced application to aid in guiding the rotating imprinting head in following the proper path.
  • the imprinting head 150' includes a type holder designated generally at. 170 is formed of a generally rectangular hollow block 172' having a rectangular secondary cavity 174'
  • a base-lock type segments 176 ' are seated within the cavity 174 ' of the type holder 170 ' and carries mounted therein, type font elements 178'
  • a resilient sealing gasket 180' is adhesively or otherwise secured tightly on the rim 182' of the type holder 170' coextensive with the cavity 174' thereof, The thickness of said gasket 180' is selected to be only slightly less than the outermost extent of the type font elements 178' when. they are seatede.
  • the gasket 180' serves multiple functions, namely, to cushion the shock of impact between the imprinting head 170' and the liner 108' bordering the ink-saturated pad 114', Gasket 180' also functions to cushion the shock of impact between the imprinting head 170' and the surface 43 of the article 16 when imprinting is performed at the end of the imprinting stroke and limits the impact of the type font per se, resulting in a clear imprint.
  • Th.e drive linkage comprises a pair of link members 190' and 192', each having shallow arms 194'. Arms 194' carry through passageways 196', Links 194', 192' are journalled on shaft 198' mounted in passageway 196' and through a bore taken through imprinting head 150'.
  • the head 150' has a pair of extensions 200' and passageways 202' are formed therein.
  • Shaft 204' is journalled in said passageway, 202' and roller bearings CbushingsL 206' are seated securely at the opposite ends of the shaft 204'.
  • a cam slot 210' is formed in each plate 48 and 5Q.
  • the cam slots 210' are identical, coextensive and aligned along their length when the plates 48,5Q are assembled to form the side parts of the housing 46.
  • the cam roller bushings 206' are seated within the cam slots 210'.
  • the cam slots 210' are formed so that they guide the bushings 206' during the imprinting and return strockes, and hence the imprinting head 150' through a rotation of 90° with minimum possible contact on the cam face and with the load divided equally across its entire face.
  • the width of the slots 210' increases slightly at the corners 212', that is approximate the midpath of travel, over a generally constant width over the remaining portions to avoid possible binding due to manufacturing variations in the dimensions of the pertinent elements.
  • the path of the cam slot is developed so as to effect a constant angular acceleration of the imprinting head during the imprinting stroke from the load condition to the midpath, engaged with the cartridge and a constant deceleration from the midpath to the terminus of the imprinting stroke.
  • the imprinting head is arranged with the face of the type holder in a vertically oriented plane.
  • the type face is in a horizontally oriented condition,
  • the imprinting head In the course of its travel, the imprinting head is rotated 90°, the angle defined between the center line of link 190' and the center line of the imprinting head, that is the pivot axis of said head, is between 90.° and 180°. From 0 to 9°, the 'change of the latter angle is 1° for each degree of rotation of the link, the angular rotation is costant and the initial acceleration, z.ero.
  • motion of the desire is to obtain a gentle constant angular acceleration of the head with least (minimization of) thrust on the cam surface.
  • the link moves through 45° rotation to the midpath (midpoint of the cam slot) while the angular rotation of the head is directed through 90° relative to the link.
  • imprinting head 150 is urged through its path during the imprinting stroke so that its least angular rate of rotation occurs at midpath to avoid undesired fold-over at the midpath.
  • the possibility of fold over is elimin.ated, the least rate of rotation occurring at the end of the strokes (imprinting) and return).
  • the path defined by the cam slot 210' is extended at its theoretical ends to provide for an additional angular movement of the link 5 ° at the opposite ends of the imprinting stroke and return stroke to insure that the cam roller will not strike the ends of the path.
  • Links 190', 192' have enlarged end portions 214' through which there are pivot assemblies 216' and 218' with the axes of assembly 216' being generally parallel to passageways 194'.
  • Shaft 220' is mounted in pivot assembly 216'.
  • the second pivot assembly 218' is positioned parallel to first pivot assembly 216'.
  • Pivot assemblies 216',218' include bearings carried by the housing plates 48,50.
  • the shaft 216' is maintained in fixed relationship relative the pivot assemblies.
  • Means are provided to fix the spacing between enlarged end portions 214' and to center the linkage assembly and imprinting head 150' between said plates 48,50.
  • Shaft 250' is coupled pivotally to plunger 222' of cylinder 224' and is secured by nut 226'.
  • the drive mechanism for the apparatus 10' is designated generally by reference character 230' and includes a fluid pressure operated cylinder 232' and the plunger 222' movable between fully withdrawn and fully extended conditions within said cylinder 232', a four-way valve 234' coupled between the cylinder 232' and the source of pressurized fluid (not shown).
  • the cylinder 232' is mounted fixedly to a rockable plate 236' provided with ears 238' and a depending flange 240'.
  • the threaded end 242' of the cylinder 232' is secured to the depending flange 240' of said plate 236'.
  • Valve 234 is seated in.terior of the housing 46 adjacent the bottom plate II and is secured to the transverse bottom brace 66.
  • the valve body 244' of valve 234' is arranged generally parallel and below, the cylinder 232'.
  • Valve 234' is coupled to a source of fluid pressure (not shown) by tubing 246' secured to fitting 248".
  • the tubing 250' couples the cylinder 233' to one port 252' of the valve 234' by securement to the fitting 254' of said cylinder 232'.
  • the fitting 254' is coupled to another portion of valve 234'.
  • Ball switch 256' is disposed at an end of the valve 234' opposite the fitting 248'.
  • the ball switch 256' is illustrated in the condition assumed when the imprinting head 150' is at the terminus of its imprinting stroke.
  • the drive links 216', 218' (in broken line) is caused to pivot about the axis of shaft 250' through a part of the imprinting stroke until the imprinting head 150' is in the condition represented by the full representation.
  • the actuating level 44 disposed in the path of the article 16 is tripped by the leading end of said article 16.
  • the interception of the article 16 by the actuating lever 44 operates the valve 232' to cause fluid pressure to be introduced into the cylinder 232' driving the plunger 222' outward of the cylinder 232'.
  • the imprinting head 150' is pivoted about shaft 198' directing the head 150' along a path represented by an arc.
  • the imprinting head reaches its maximun angular speed of rotation and whips around the corner 212' directing the orientation of type holder 170' to approach a horizontal plane parallel to the surface of the package to be imprinted.
  • the head 150' decelerates angularly until stopped at the end of the said stroke.
  • the type holder 170' is extended inertially to imprint the package surface.
  • Tie window 255' in bottom plate 70 has dimensions slightly larger than that of the type holder 170' so that the imprinting head will be directed, during imprinting, through the window 255' and will impact upon said surface 43. Tie parallelogrammic motion of the type holder 170' in the last portion of the imprinting stroke enables the inked type 178' carried by the type holder 170' effectively to kiss the surface 43 of the article 16 whereby not to damage same or to mis-hit same orientationally.
  • the resilient gasket 180' on the type holder 170' absorbs the shock of engagement with the surface 43 and also functions to further enable the orientation of the type holder 170' to be self-adjusted so as to compensate for minor surface irregularities as well as to compensate for very minor height differences so long as the surface to be imprinted is disposed spaced from the imprinting head within the range of extension of said type font 178' carried by the type holder
  • the window 255' in bottom plate 70 has dimensions slightly larger than that of the type holder 17 0 ' so that the imprinting head will be directed, during imprinting, through the window 255' and will impact upon said surface 43.
  • the parallelogrammic motion of the type holder 170' in the last portion of the imprinting stroke enables the inked type 178' carried by the type holder 170' effectively to kiss the surface 43 of the article 16 whereby not to damage same or to mishit same orientationally.
  • the resilient gasket 180' on the type holder 170' absorbs the shock of engagement with the surface 43 and also functions to further enable the orientation of the type holder 170' to be self-adjusted so as to compensate for minor surface irregularities as well as to compensate for very minor height differences so long as the surface to be imprinted is disposed spaced from the imprinting head witnin the range of extension of said type font 178' carried by the type holder 170', inertially or when extended adjustably as will be explained later.
  • the imprinting apparatus 10' a-so can be installed at a predetermined location relative to the conveyor and is adjustable for height and overhang, can be installed on either side of the conveyor within appreciable downtime, and can be rotated through any angular disposition relative to the conveyor.
  • the invention herein provides for a vernier type adjustment of the imprinting location by varying the terminal location of the imprinting stroke. This is accomplished pivotally by mounting the rocker plate 236' on an excentric axis 258'.
  • the vertically offset point of the said excentric mounting axis is variable to vary the terminus location a predetermined linear distance, here + 3/32nds of an inch.
  • the adjustability compensates for variance in the normally encountered height once the imprinting apparatus has been mounted set up without disassembly.
  • the variance of height of a series of packages being processed require compensation which can be adjusted manually by the operator without requiring such adjustment to be made in the mounting per se.
  • a plate 260' carries the excentrically centered shaft which constitutes said axis 258'.
  • Plate 260' carries pin 262' which is secured to adjustment knob 264'.
  • arcuate slot 268' the pin 262' is guided for movement in arcuate slot 266' formed in plate 48 along an angular path. (See arrow FIG: 11). Movement of the pin 262' in slot 266' causes the plate 236' to be shifted horizontally thus the extent of the imprinting and return stroke terminal with the said linear horizontal movement of said plate 236'.
  • the apparatus is versatile, more durable than prior imprinting devices of the intermittent impact type, enables longer useful life for the inking cartridges in view of the improved sealing effect obtained. Selective hyper-extension of the type-holder can be provided for gaining access to the type holder 170' for removal and/or replacement thereof, as well as to change its orientation without the use of tools.
  • the invention is not limited to the use only of fluid operated systems such as described above. Electrically operated devices such as solenoids can be employed to drive the plunger or the linkages to move the imprinting head between its rest and imprinting positions. No means to intercept the imprinting head during either imprinting or return stroke need be provided. The desired path defined by the cam slot is sufficient to enable the desired orientation of the type holder to be reached at the imprinting location and at the terminus of the return stroke.
  • the actuating lever 44 may be replaced by electronically operated sensing means, for example, such as proximity detector, a photocell, etc. which is activated by the presence of an article at or coming to the imprinting location.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)
EP81305034A 1980-10-27 1981-10-26 Machine à tamponner à mouvement alternatif Withdrawn EP0050980A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/200,913 US4365554A (en) 1980-10-27 1980-10-27 Article imprinting apparatus
US200913 1980-10-27
US06/285,444 US4419931A (en) 1981-07-21 1981-07-21 Reciprocable imprinting apparatus
US285444 1981-07-21

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP84116172.2 Division-Into 1981-10-26

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0050980A1 true EP0050980A1 (fr) 1982-05-05

Family

ID=26896219

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP84116172A Withdrawn EP0159413A2 (fr) 1980-10-27 1981-10-26 Appareil d'impression à mouvement de va-et-vient
EP81305034A Withdrawn EP0050980A1 (fr) 1980-10-27 1981-10-26 Machine à tamponner à mouvement alternatif

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP84116172A Withdrawn EP0159413A2 (fr) 1980-10-27 1981-10-26 Appareil d'impression à mouvement de va-et-vient

Country Status (9)

Country Link
EP (2) EP0159413A2 (fr)
AR (1) AR228623A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU554632B2 (fr)
BR (1) BR8106891A (fr)
CA (1) CA1172101A (fr)
ES (1) ES506618A0 (fr)
GB (1) GB2086307B (fr)
IL (1) IL64108A0 (fr)
MX (1) MX153640A (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0626269A2 (fr) * 1993-05-04 1994-11-30 Markem Corporation Appareil d'impression à mouvement alternatif muni d'un dispositif d'encrage tangentiel
CN102381500A (zh) * 2011-08-04 2012-03-21 上海迪凯分离机械实业有限公司 打码机的驱动制动装置及其方法

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2302004B2 (de) * 1972-01-17 1975-01-16 Bell-Mark Corp., Bloomfield, N.J. (V.St.A.) Vorrichtung zum Bedrucken von flächigem Material
US3877367A (en) * 1973-05-11 1975-04-15 Norwood Machinery & Equipment Device for printing boxes moving on a conveyor
GB1493638A (en) * 1974-11-25 1977-11-30 Korthofah Bv Printing apparatus

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2302004B2 (de) * 1972-01-17 1975-01-16 Bell-Mark Corp., Bloomfield, N.J. (V.St.A.) Vorrichtung zum Bedrucken von flächigem Material
US3877367A (en) * 1973-05-11 1975-04-15 Norwood Machinery & Equipment Device for printing boxes moving on a conveyor
GB1493638A (en) * 1974-11-25 1977-11-30 Korthofah Bv Printing apparatus

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0626269A2 (fr) * 1993-05-04 1994-11-30 Markem Corporation Appareil d'impression à mouvement alternatif muni d'un dispositif d'encrage tangentiel
US5515780A (en) * 1993-05-04 1996-05-14 Markem Corporation Reciprocating printing apparatus with tangential inking arrangement
EP0626269A3 (fr) * 1993-05-04 1996-08-14 Markem Corp Appareil d'impression à mouvement alternatif muni d'un dispositif d'encrage tangentiel.
CN102381500A (zh) * 2011-08-04 2012-03-21 上海迪凯分离机械实业有限公司 打码机的驱动制动装置及其方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2086307A (en) 1982-05-12
BR8106891A (pt) 1982-07-13
AU554632B2 (en) 1986-08-28
IL64108A0 (en) 1982-01-31
MX153640A (es) 1986-12-09
CA1172101A (fr) 1984-08-07
EP0159413A2 (fr) 1985-10-30
ES8206284A1 (es) 1982-08-16
GB2086307B (en) 1985-11-20
AU7687381A (en) 1982-05-06
ES506618A0 (es) 1982-08-16
AR228623A1 (es) 1983-03-30

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