US1223610A - Can-stamper. - Google Patents

Description

S. PITTALUGA.

CAN STAMPER.

APPLICATION FILED Aus.8. 1914,

Patented Apr. 24,1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

M J I a S. PITTALUGA.

CAN STAMPER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.B, I914. m wm Patented Apr. 24,1917.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l nveraiar u 6 I f/f 4 35 vv 7 STEFANO PITTALUGA, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, 'ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH 'llO sears FATENT FFWEQ C. P. GORINI, ONE-FOURTH TO E. J. KITTERMAN, AND ONE-FOURTH TO F. W. SCHULTZ, ALL DE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CAN-STAMPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 241, 1917.

Application filed August 8, 1914. Serial No. 855,925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEFANO PITTALUGA, a subject of the, King of Italy, having declared my intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Can-Stamper, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a stamper for operation in connection with a moving train of containers such ascans, bottles, boxes and the like and an object is to provide a laterally shiftable stamp adapted to operate upon the sides of the containers, either before or after labeling, as they are conveyed by the stamper.

The stamper is especially adapted for use upon a moving train of open cans and is appropriately positioned relative thereto, preferably operating to leave an impression upon each successive can as they are conveyed to a filling or capping machine.

Heretofore in stampers of this character used for cans the stamp signifying the variety of food stufl, among other data, has been impressed upon the can top after the can is capped and in practical use to admit of inspection of the can contents while the stamping is being efi'ected, I perform the stamping operation upon the open filled can before capping to thus avoid confusion in marking as well as all liability of mis stamping especially when changing from one food stuff to another and accordingly a specific object of this invention is to construct a stamper that operates successfully upon the side of an open can thus permitting the stamping to precede the capping operation.

In this class of Stampers it is essential to produce a sufficiently powerful blow to secure a clean cut impression and to this end I provide a spring I lever to deliver the stamping blow.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a construction of stamp carrier whereby an ordinary hand stamp may be utilized, also to provide a carrier in which interchangeable stamps may be readily applied and the same firmly held in operating position.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the subjoined detail description and illustration of one specific form of the device as'used for handling cans in a canning establishment.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a stamper embodying this invention and applied adjacent a conveyer, a portion of which is shown, to operate upon a moving train of cans. Parts are shown in a position assumed just after the stamp has contacted with the can upon the completion of a stamping blow.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 00 w Figs. 1 and 4, parts being shown in a position corresponding to Fig. 1, just after the stamp has acted upon an open fruit can" which is shown broken away and partially filled.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation through the conveyer, viewed from line w -w Figs. 1, 2 and 4, with parts in a position corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2. A middle portion of the conveyer, together with cans thereon, is omitted and parts broken away and shown in section for clearness of illustration.

Fig. 4 is a plan View analogous to Fig. 1,

-parts being in section on line W-mfl Figs. 2, 3 and 5. The spring actuated lever is shown retracted, just about to deliver the stamping blow.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical cross-section through the interchangeable-stamp carrier with the stamp in place therein, section taken on line as -m Figs.2 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental view of the striking lever detached, showing the adjustable retracting finger secured thereto.

Arrows on the section lines in the various views indicate the direction of sight.

In the embodiment shown a suitably supported table member 1 serves as a support for the conveyor 2 which may be of any desirable form and in the present instance comprises a conveyer plate 3 having side guides 4, 5 between which the upright cans 6 are moved by the usual lipped or propel- Y conveyer,'said propel ing links ling links 7 of 'a chain arts of the being arranged at appropriate intervals throughout the length of the chain.

-A base member 10 is secured to the table member, adjacent theconveyer and alongside the guide 4, by'bolts 11 and supports an upright standard 12, preferably by means of a lower threaded standard portion 13 screwing into the member 10 and secured in place therein by a locknut 14. In this instance said upright standard is held rigidly in place by anoverhanging base arm 15, a stud 16 extending through the end portion of said arm and into the threaded socket 17 trough 9, and formin movable in the top of the standard.

The standard 12 serves as a mounting for a laterally shiftable stamp 18 to impress the sides'of the cans 6, said stamp being held in a carrier 19 which is slidably mounted by means of upper and or guides 20 and 21 extending through transverse guide-ways or standard bores 22 and 23 respectively, the upper stem 20 also extending through an ear 24 of the overhanging arm 15 to insure accurate alin'ement of the carrier. The lower stem 21 is provided with an end shoulder 25 against which a compression spring 26 impinges, said spring being mounted upon the stem and having its other end bearing against the standard 12, thus tending to hold the stamp carrier in retracted position.

A striking pin 27 connected to the carrier, intermediate the stems 20 and 21 and somewhat shorter than said stems, extends through a standard bore 28 and aflords means to move the carrier forward in opposition to the spring 26. A lever 29 is fulcrumed at 30 to a raised extension 30 of the base 10 and is resiliently connected with said base by a tension spring 31 through a lever arm 32 and base arm 33, the tip 290f said lever being normally spring pressed against the standard and adapted to engage the in 27 to hold the carrier and stamp in a orward position with the stamp slightly spaced apart from the impression receiving plane of the moving cans.

The lever 29 has a retracting finger 34 preferably made adjustable by means of a slot and stud connection 35, which finger together with a sprocket 36 constitutes means to retract the lever against the tension of the spring 31 preparatory to delivering the stamp impressing blow.

The sprocket 36 is rotatively mounted upon the upright standard 12 and is positioned upon the lock-nut 14, said sprocket having teeth 37 and concave faces 38 therebetween that conform substantially to the periphery of the cans.

The sprocket is arranged so that the teeth 8 running in the by operation of theconveyer act lower carrier stems through lips 52 that extend into the ath of travel of the cans and the concave faces 38 are adapted to successively receive the upright cans as the same are moved along by the conveyer to thus turn the sprocket 36, the teeth of which wipe by the retracting finger tip 39 that extends lnto the path of said teeth, thereby operating the spring-lever to strike the stamp to impress each of the successive can sides as said cans move by the Stamper.

The can or other containers moved along upon the sprocket to rotate the same to actuate the stamp actuating mechanism.

Said sprocket is provided with a brake consisting of a spring piece 40 that is suit ably secured to the overhanging arm 15 and extends into the path of the sprocket teeth, said brake also serving to prevent rotation of the sprocket disk in the opposite direction.

- The inking means for the stamp comprises ink rollers 41 that are mounted upon the top of the sprocket 36 and are adapted to rotate therewith to roll around upon a stationary ink pad 42 to collect a supply of ink and thence around upon the stamp characters 43 to deliver the ink thereto. The lever 29 is provided at its middle portion with an arch 44, see Fig. 3, under which the rollers pass during the course of rotation. Three ink rollers are preferably provided, although any number may be used as occasion requires and each roller consists of a tubular sheath 45 having a rubber facing 46, said tubular sheath being mounted to turn freely upon an upright journal pin 47 that is adjustably secured to the sprocket disk by feet 48 having'screws 49 passing therethrough and into the disk.

The stationary ink pad 42 may be mounted upon a bracket 50 which, in the instance shown, is supported upon the overhanging arm by the standard holding stud 16, said bracket having a hook arm 51 passing are secured to the pad. The distance from the outer end of the striking pin 27 to the face of the characters 43 is sllghtly less than the distance between the striking face of the lever tip 29 and the impression receiving plane of the cans when .tip 29'.

By this construction a clear-cut impression is delivered by the relatively stationary from the can imstamp upon each of the moving cans as they' pass by without any liability of blurring.

In a stamper of this class using a common form of hand stamp it is very essential that convenient means be provided whereby the stamp may be readily applied and at the same time be firmly held in place and to this end the carrier is provided with :1 back portion 53 having a groove a. therein, into which the rounding back of the stamp fits, and a side member 54 substantially conforming to the rounding contour of. the side of the stamp. A leaf spring 55 secured'to the carrier floor 56 by a screw 57, also conforms to the side of the stamp and extends upwardly adjacent the member 54. The detachable stamp 18 is inserted in place upon the floor 56, against the back 53 and between the spring 55 and side member 54, being friction'ally held in the carrier by means of the spring 55 which arrangement permits of a stamp being quickly snapped out of and in place as when changing from one food stuff to another.

The device may be variously positioned relative to the moving train of cans and in the instance shown may be considered as operatingbupon the partially filled cans as they are eing conveyed in the direction of the arrow, Figs. 1 and 4, to the syrup filling machine, not shown.

In practical operation as the conveyer carries a can between two adjacent teeth the next advance tooth 37 acts upon the finger tip 39. In Fig. 4, the tooth 37' is shown as having advanced upon said tip and retracted the lever against the tension of the spring 31, the stamp and carrier meanwhile being moved into a retracted position against the standard by the spring 26, and upon further movement of the tooth 37' by continued movement of the cans said tooth passes the finger tip and the spring 31 then becomes effective to actuate the lever 29 to strike the pin 27 and thrust the stamp directly outward in a straight path to press the characters 43 against the side of the impression receiving can, the side guide 5 serving to support said can against this lateral stamp thrust. During the striking interval of the lever, (while passing to position shown in Fig. 1) the can is moved forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4 into central alinement with the stamp.

Thus it is seen that the arrangement of the finger relative to the sprocket teeth is such that when the stamp contacts with the can to leave the impression, the stamp and can are in alinement with one another, and the stamping is effected by a direct thrust of the stamp caused by the action of the container so that the stamp invariably acts on the exact surface for which it has been fitted.

stamping operation.

After the stamp has contacted with the can, upon the completion of the stamping blow, said stamp will instantly rebound- Whereupon it will be held by the spring 26 in retracted position with the striking pin 27 abutting against the lever tip 29, then normally bearing against the standard. This instantaneous rebound of the laterally moving stamp avoids any blurring as the impression is delivered upon the moving can and the amount of retraction is just suflicient to normally hold the stamp slightly out of the path of the moving cans and in position to receive ink from the approaching roller 41 preparatory for the next stamping operation. The inking rollers in this instance are so positioned that each roller passes over the stamp characters to supply ink thereto between every other As the stamped can rides out from between adjacent teeth 37, upon continued movement of the conveyer, the sprocket is turned so that the following concave face 38 receives the next succeeding can and the advancing tooth 37 rides upon the finger tip preparatory to retracting the spring-lever 29 to deliver an impression upon the unstamped can as it comes into alinement with the stamp, thus the stamping may proceed as the cans are conveyed by the Stamper.

From the foregoing it is seen that I have devised for the first time a can stamper in which a single non-rotatable stamp operates upon the sides of the open filled cans, the construction being such that the stamp will instantly rebound from the side of each successive can and thus avoid any blurring of the impression.

In case the stamper is used in connection with cans of a larger or smaller diameter, a corresponding sprocket is accordingly used, the concave faces of which conform substantially to the periphery of the cans used and the retracting finger is adjusted by means of the slotted connection 35 to co-act with the teeth of the substituted sprocket disk.

1 claim 2-- 1. The combination with a conveyer adapted to carry cans in an upright position, of an upright standard mounted at one side of the conveyer, a spring retracted stamp mounted for horizontal reciprocation in position to hit the sides of the cans, a spring actuated hammer for advancing the stamp, and means for raising and releasing the hammer by the movement of the cans.

2. The combination with a conveyer adapted to carry cans in an upright position, of an upright standard mounted at the side of the conveyer, a spring retracted stamp mounted for horizontal reciprocation upon the standard in position to hit the sides of the cans, a spring actuated hammer for advancing the stamp, a sprocket rotatably mounted upon the standard and having teeth to be engaged by the passing cans and having means for raising and releasing the hammer, so that said hammer is operated by the passing cans.

3. The combination With a conveyer to carry containers, of a standard mounted adjacent said conveyer, a shiftable stamp mounted on said standard and adapted to impress successive containers, and a lever to strike the stamp, said standard serving as a stop to arrest the striking blow of the lever, 'ust previous to the impression-contact oi the stamp to thus permit of the instantaneous rebound of the stamp.

4. The combination with a conveyer to carry containers, of a standard mounted adjacent said conveyer, 'a shiftable stamp mounted on said standard and adapted to impress successive containers, a striking pin on the stamp and extending through the standard, and ,a lever to strike the striking pin to impress the stamp, the distance from the outer end of said striking pin to the impression face of the stamp being less than the distance between the lever striking face and the impression receiving plane of the cans when said lever is normally bearing against the standard, thus to permit of the instantaneous rebound of the stamp after impression-contact.

5. The combination with a conveyer 'to carry containers, of a laterally shiftable stamp to impress successive containers, a spring actuated lever to strike the stamp, a rotatably mounted sprocket having teeth adapted to successively receive the containers as the same are moved along by the conveyer, and a retracting finger on the lever and extending into the path of said sprocket teeth, said teeth being adapted to wipe by the retracting finger and thus retract the lever to deliver the stamping blow.

6. The combination with a conveyer to carry containers, of a laterally shiftable stamp mounted adjacent said conveyer, and adapted to impress successive containers, a spring actuated lever to strike the stamp, a sprocket having teeth extending into the path of travel of the containers to thereby turn said sprocket, a retracting finger adjustably mounted upon said lever and adapted to extend into the path of said teeth to retract the lever to deliver the stamping blow.

7. Thecombination with a conveyer to carry containers, of a laterally shiftable stamp carrier mounted adjacent said conveyer, a stamp for said carrier to impress successive containers, a spring actuated lever to strike the stamp carrier, a sprocket having teeth extending into the path of travel of the containers to thereby turn said sprocket, a retracting finger mounted upon said lever and adapted to co-act with said sprocket teeth to retract the lever to deliver the stamping blow.

8. The combination with a conveyer to carry containers, of a stationary standard mounted adjacent said conveyer, a nonrotatable shiftable stamp carrier mounted on said standard and adapted to hold a stamp, a striking pin connected to the stamp carrier and extending through the stationary standard, a lever to strike said striking pin to impress the stamp, and means operatable by movement of the conveyer to operate the lever.

9. The combination with a conveyer to carry containers, of an upright standard mounted adjacent said conveyer, and provided with upper and lower bores, a stampcarrier having upper and lower stems adapted to extend through said bores to slidably mount said carrier, a striking pin connected to the carrier intermediate said stems and extending through the standard, a lever to strike the striking pin to impress the stamp, means operatable by the movement of the conveyer to operate the lever, and a spring upon one of said stems to retract the carrier.

10. The combination with a conveyer to carry containers, of an upright standard mounted adjacent said conveyer, a laterally shiftable stamp carrier mounted on said standard and provided with a stamp, inking rollers to supply ink to said stamp, a striking pin connected to the carrier and extending through the standard, a lever having its tip normally bearing against the standard, said tip being adapted to strike the striking pin to impress the stamp, means operatable by the movement of the conveyer to operate the lever, and spring means to retract the carrier to hold the striking pin against the stamp in. position lever tip to maintain the to contact with said ink rollers.

11. The combination with a conveyer to carry containers, of a laterally shiftable stamp to impress successive containers, a stationary ink pad for said stamp, a spring actuated lever to strike the stamp, a retracting finger on said lever, a rotatably mounted sprocket operatable by the containers on the conveyer and adapted to co-act with said retracting finger to retract the lever to deliver the stamping blow, and ink rollers mounted upon said rotatable sprocket adapted to collect ink from said ink pad and deliver it to said laterally shiftable stamp.

12. A supporting plate, a guide along one side of the supporting plate, an endless conveyer for moving upright cans along said supporting plate and against said guide,

and a reciprocating stamping mechanism at my hand at Los Angeles, California, this the opposite side of the supporting plate 1st day of August, 1914.

from the guide a spring actuated hammer for advancing the stamp, and means for STEFANO PITTALUGA' 5 raising and releasing the hammer and oper- In presence ofated by the movement of the cans. JAMES R. TOWNSEND,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set WILLIAM N. KIRKBY.

Images