INDICIA STAMPING MECHANISM

• US 3,837,276 A
• Filed: 05/11/1973
• Issued: 09/24/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anderson R. Reichert
• Original Assignee: Anderson R. Reichert
• Inventors: Reichert, Anderson R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, Clifford D.
• Application Number:
  US05/359,605
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 101/35,36,37,41-44,316-321,4,8,9,11,27,DIG.3
• US Class Current: 101/41
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/24 for printing on flat surfaces of polyhedral articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 101/30 Special article printing with article controlled operation

Abstract

In synchronism with wrapper applying means on a packaging conveyor pneumatically operated ink stampers precisely apply price indicia in prescribed areas of wrapped finished products or packages. The indicia stamping mechanism is characterized by a full range of adjustments to achieve maximum flexibility of operation. The mechanism also possesses simplicity and durability in a self-contained unit with simplified controls.

Claims

1. An indicia stamping mechanism for applying price indicia or the like to articles on a conveyor at a stamping station adjacent to the conveyor, said mechanism comprising an upright member adapted to be anchored at a point near said conveyor, a horizontal support member connected with the upright member and extending beyond at least one side thereof, fine adjusting means interconnecting the horizontal support member and upright member in such a way that the elevation of the horizontal support member may be changed in minute degrees upwardly or downwardly on the upright member, a fluid pressure operated cylinder on said horizontal member extending at right angles thereto and having an extensible and retractable piston rod, a crosshead secured to said piston rod and extending on opposite sides thereof, guideway and bearing support means for the crosshead secured to said horizontal support member and extending beyond one side thereof, at least one indicia stamping device secured to said crosshead and being adjustable laterally of the crosshead and forwardly and rearwardly thereon and being lockable in the selected adjusted position relative to the crosshead, the indicia stamping device extending forwardly of the crosshead for direct engagement with articles when the crosshead is extended with said piston rod, a fluid pressure supply system for said cylinder including a control valve, and cyclically operable means connected with the control valve to regulate its operation and the operation of said cylinder and being driven by a moving component of said conveyor.

2. An indicia stamping mechanism for use with a packaging conveyor or the like comprising a primary support member attachable to a fixed structural member, a right angular support member coupled with the primary support member, screw-threaded means operable to effect a fine adjustment of said right angular member along the axis of the primary member, a power actuator on the right angular member extending transversely thereof, a crosshead carried by the power actuator and shiftable thereby away from and toward the right angular member while the crosshead is in substantial parallel relation to the right angular member, a pair of guide and support rods for the crosshead secured to the right angular member in parallel spaced relation and projecting beyond one side of the right angular member, a pair of self-inking indicia stamping devices on the crosshead and movable therewith under influence of the power actuator, means coupling said stamping devices adjustably to the crosshead so that the stamping devices may be adjusted laterally of the crosshead and longitudinally at right angles to the crosshead and then locked in selected adjusted positions, and cyclically timed control means for the power actuator to extend and retract the crosshead with the stamping devices at prescribed intervals.

3. The structure of claim 2, and said power actuator being an extensible and retractable fluid pressure operated cylinder-piston unit adjustably mounted on said right angular support member.

4. The structure of claim 2, and said screw-threaded means comprising a coupling member common to said primary support member and right angular support member and slidable relative to the primary support member, a screw shaft rotatably mounted upon the primary support member, a threaded cross bar attached to the coupling member and having threaded engagement with the screw shaft, and said primary support member having a slot formed therein receiving the ends of the cross bar so that the latter may be shifted with the coupling member and right angular support member relative to the primary support member minute distances.

5. The structure of claim 2, and said means coupling said stamping devices adjustably to the crosshead comprising a pair of elongate slots in the crosshead on oppOsite sides of the power actuator, shaft extensions on the stamping devices extending through said slots and being turnable and shiftable laterally and axially relative to the slots, and pairs of clamping plate members on opposite sides of the crosshead having aligned openings receiving the shaft extensions, bolt means for clampingly securing said plate members to the crosshead in selected laterally adjusted positions, and a locking set screw on at least one of the plate members of each pair engageable with the shaft extension of the associated stamping device to lock the shaft extension.

6. The structure of claim 2, and a pair of limit stop elements for said crosshead on the leading ends of said guide and support rods, said crosshead having spaced recesses in its lower edge slidably receiving the tops of the guide and support rods.

7. The structure of claim 2, and said cyclically timed control means for the power actuator including a rotary element, and an electro-mechanical control means including an element in the path of movement of said rotary element and operated thereby to cyclically initiate the operation of the power actuator.

8. The structure of claim 7, and said power actuator comprises a pneumatically operated expansible and retractable cylinder-piston unit, and said control means includes a valve connected in a compressed air supply system for the pneumatic cylinder-piston unit and responding to the cyclical actuation of said electro-mechanical control means.