Motor driven seal device

A motor driven seal device for impressing a design permanently on paper using a seal clip assembly including a male die and matching female counter from a new or existing manually operated seal. The invention incorporates a motor with housed gearing which operates a drive rod and compression sleeve. A frame extends from a base (or platen) onto which the motor is mounted. The motor shaft drivingly engages the drive rod which extends from the motor toward the platen. A compression sleeve capable of travel along the length of the drive rod in response to rotation of the drive rod engages the drive rod adjacent the platen. The seal clip is inserted between the compression sleeve and the platen. Rotation of the drive rod by the motor advances the compression sleeve toward the platen thereby pressing the die of the seal clip into matching engagement with the counter. A piece of paper inserted between the die and counter of the seal clip during this operation is embossed with the indicia contained on the die.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 This invention relates to embossing seals for permanently impressing
 designs, symbols, or words used to certify signature or authenticate a
 paper document permanently with a blind embossing.
 2. Background of the Invention
 Seals for impressing a design, symbol or words into a piece of paper are a
 proven effective way to authenticate an original document and distinguish
 it from a forgery. Such seals can be manufactured to be one of a kind so
 as to apply an impression which is as nearly impossible to duplicate as
 currency.
 Applying an impression with a seal has been known for centuries and
 continues to be an important part of modem business activity. In fact,
 application of seal technology to paper has grown to become an expected,
 essential part of routine business practice.
 Seals to be used on paper are constructed with a seal clip including die
 and counter portions positioned to match when pressure is applied. When
 pressure is released, a clip spring connecting the die and counter acts to
 bias the two from each other. A document is placed between the die and
 counter combination such that when activated with enough force, the paper
 will be embossed or impressed permanently with the predetermined
 impression.
 Many states and other jurisdictions and institutions require use of a seal
 to authenticate important transactional documents. The most common users
 are corporations, notary publics, government offices, libraries, courts,
 universities, and so forth. In each instance, the user has a seal
 manufactured for embossing paper with a combination of words, symbols
 and/or emblems that identify the institution or certifier with their
 unique permanent impression. This impression serves to forever verify
 authenticity of the document.
 Most known seals are squeezed or lever activated. Such manual devices are
 directly dependent upon the individual person's strength. A concern has
 arisen that frequent use of these hand-operated devices may contribute
 over time to medical conditions such as Repetitive Stress Syndrome.
 Therefore, a need exists for a power driven seal device which is not
 dependent upon the strength or dexterity of the user. A need also exists
 for such a power driven seal device to be of a simple and reliable design.
 Manual seals most commonly employed for notary or corporate seal service
 include a clamp frame into which the above-described seal clip is
 inserted. The clamp frame is designed to be gripped by the user's hand
 such that pressure applied by the hand presses the seal die into matching
 engagement with the counter. Devices such as these are commonly obtained
 as the notary license or certificate of incorporation are obtained. Due to
 the fact that most notaries and corporations already possess the
 above-described seal devices, it is desirable for a power driven seal
 device to employ the clip assembly of the hand-operated device. In this
 way the user is not required to have a new seal specially made to be
 included in the power driven device.
 Power driven seal devices are known in the art, such as my U.S. Pat. No.
 5,461,976. However, it has been found that devices such as this are
 unsuitable for use with the existing seal clip assemblies of the
 hand-operated seal. It is believed that this is because the clip spring
 seal assembly is not designed to withstand the long term repetitive impact
 shock of an impulse power device such as one including a solenoid.
 Accordingly, a need exists for a power driven seal device which employs the
 seal clip of a hand-operated seal.
 A need further exists for a power driven seal device which operates to
 apply a constant, steady force upon the seal clip which approximates or
 surpasses the force applied by the user's hand.
 Additionally, since a motor driven seal device is an alternative to the
 inexpensive hand-operated seal, a need exists for a motor driven seal
 device which is simple and reliable in design.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 This invention is a motor driven seal device for embossing paper with a
 permanent impression using a seal clip from an existing or new manual
 seal. The invention includes, generally, a base, a frame extending from a
 base, a motor with housed gearing mounted to said frame, a platen, a drive
 rod drivingly engaged to the motor extending from the motor toward the
 platen, a compression sleeve mounted to the drive rod capable of moving
 along the length of the drive rod in response to rotation of the drive rod
 and the seal clip inserted between the compression sleeve and the platen.
 The platen may be supported from the frame or base, or may be the base. A
 housing may be applied over the seal device in order to protect the
 mechanism or for purely aesthetic purposes.
 A compression sleeve retainer is supported from the frame to retain the
 compression sleeve so that rotation of the drive rod causes the
 compression sleeve to move along the length of the drive rod depending
 upon its direction of rotation. The motor includes an output shaft
 drivingly engaged to the drive rod such that rotation of the shaft in turn
 rotates the drive rod in the desired direction. The direction of rotation
 of the shaft is dependent upon the direction of the electrical current
 applied to the motor.
 The seal clip assembly includes a die and diametrically opposed matching
 counter combination with a clip spring connecting and biasing the die from
 the counter. The die includes any desired design such as a symbol, word,
 logo, or any combination thereof. Compression of the die into matching
 engagement with the counter thereby impresses the design in a piece of
 paper inserted between the die and counter.
 The seal clip is inserted in the motor driven seal device of the present
 invention between the compression sleeve and the base/platen such that
 when the drive rod is rotated by the shaft of the motor in one direction,
 the compression sleeve is lowered toward the platen thereby compressing
 the seal clip therebetween. This places the die in matching engagement
 with the counter. The clip spring of the seal clip provides the spring
 tension to bias the die from the counter. Conversely, rotation of the
 drive rod through applying current in the opposite direction to the motor
 drivingly rotates the drive rod in the opposite direction. The compression
 sleeve secured by the compression sleeve retainer thereby moves in the
 opposite direction along the length of the drive rod away from the platen.
 The die is biased away from the counter (and the platen) by the clip
 spring of the seal clip assembly. The clip spring of the seal clip
 assembly thereby follows the compression sleeve in a direction alternating
 from an open position where the die is biased from the counter to a closed
 position where the die is in matching engagement with the counter.
 An impression of the seal is applied to a document by positioning the paper
 in the seal clip assembly between the die and counter and activating the
 motor. The shaft of the motor rotates the drive rod causing the
 compression sleeve to apply force on the seal clip driving the die and
 counter portions together with great force. A permanent embossed
 impression of the seal on the document is created. The seal impression
 left by the motor driven seal device thereafter providing means of which
 authenticity of the document may occur.
 As can be seen by the common seal impressions of FIG. 4, the use of seals
 is a common and essential part of business and governmental life. Due to
 the sheer number of such seal assemblies presently in use, it is a benefit
 for a device to replace the hand-operated seal device with a motorized
 device, such as the present invention, which employs the seal assembly
 removed from the hand-operated seal. In this way, the user can employ the
 motorized seal device of the present invention immediately, without the
 requirement of creating expensive customized die and counter pairs.
 Further, a single motorized seal device can be used interchangeably for
 many seal applications simply by exchanging the seal assembly between the
 compression sleeve and the platen.
 It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a motor driven
 seal device for applying an impression on a document.
 It is a further object of the present invention to provide a motor driven
 seal device which employs a seal clip of a manual seal.
 It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a motor
 driven seal device which operates to apply a constant, steady force upon
 the seal clip.
 A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a motor driven
 seal device which is simple and reliable in design.
 A better understanding of the invention can be had from the following
 description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 Attention is directed to the drawings which show the combination employing
 a motor for activating a power driven seal device.
 Attention is first directed to FIG. 1 which is an isometric view of the
 motor driven seal device 7 of the present invention, which includes,
 generally, a base (or platen) 10, supporting a frame 12 onto which a motor
 14 with housed gearing 15 is mounted. Motor 14 includes an output shaft 16
 drivingly connected to a drive rod 18 which extends from motor 14 through
 frame 12 toward base 10. A compression sleeve 20 is secured to the
 terminal, or second, end of drive rod 18 which extends toward base 10. A
 compression sleeve retainer 22 surrounds compression sleeve 20 thereby
 preventing its rotation. Compression sleeve 20 travels along the length of
 drive rod 18 in response to rotation of drive rod 18 by output shaft 16 of
 motor 14. Compression sleeve retainer 22, while preventing rotation of
 compression sleeve 20, does not prevent compression sleeve 20 from
 traveling along the length of drive rod 18. A seal clip assembly 24 from a
 new or existing manual seal is inserted in frame 12 between compression
 sleeve 20 and base 10. As compression sleeve 20 travels along drive rod 18
 upon rotation of drive rod 18, compression sleeve 20 contacts and
 compresses seal clip assembly 24 thereby imprinting an image on a piece of
 paper that corresponds to an image on seal clip 24.
 FIG. 2 depicts a common manual hand seal 25 with seal clip assembly 24
 installed therein. Manual hand-operated seal 25 is commonly employed for
 notary or corporate seal service. Manual hand seal 25 is designed to be
 gripped by the user's hand such that pressure applied by the hand applies
 pressure to clip assembly 24. A sheet of paper inserted in clip assembly
 24 may be thereby impressed with the seal contained on the clip assembly
 24.
 FIG. 3 depicts clip assembly 24 in detail removed from manual hand seal 25
 of FIG. 2. Clip assembly 24 includes female die 26 and a matching opposed
 male counter 28. Die 26 and counter 28 are retained in opposed position by
 clip spring 30. Clip spring 30, terminating at tail 32, acts to bias die
 26 away from counter 28. Die 26 typically includes a nib 34 extending
 therefrom which generally engages manual hand seal 25 (of FIG. 2).
 Manual hand seal devices such as device 25 of FIG. 2 are very common and
 obtained typically at the time of incorporation or notary licensure. Due
 to the large number of such devices presently in use, the clip assembly 24
 from manual hand seal 25 (of FIG. 2) may be removed and inserted into the
 motor driven seal device 7 (FIG. 1) of the present invention.
 Reference is next made to FIG. 4 in combination with FIG. 3. Seal clip 24
 of FIG. 3 includes female die 26 and matching male counter 28. Die 26 and
 counter 28 may include any design, symbol, or words (or any combination
 thereof) necessary or desired to be impressed on a piece of paper. FIG. 4
 depicts three examples of common seal impressions used to authenticate
 documents. Seal impression 38 is a typical corporate seal which would
 include the name of the corporation and perhaps a design recognizable as
 originating from the corporation. Such seals are commonly used in business
 transactions to authenticate official corporate documents such as stock
 certificates, minutes of corporate meetings, contracts, and other official
 corporate transactional documents.
 Seal impression 40 is an example of a typical seal for a notary public.
 Such notary seals are widely used to authenticate original documents (and
 signatures thereon) which include wills, contracts, certificates of title
 for vehicles, and numerous other transactional documents where witness of
 a person's signature is required. Such notary certificates are essential
 where the possibility exists that the document, or the signatures thereon,
 are challenged in a legal proceeding.
 Seal impression 42 is an example of a seal bearing the name and official
 symbol for a judicial body. Such seals are commonly applied by the clerk
 of the court to certify that a document has been officially filed with
 that court or that the document bears the authority of the court or
 judicial officer.
 Referring next to FIG. 5 which depicts base 10 which supports, and from
 which frame 12 extends. FIG. 5 is the device 7 of FIG. 1 with motor 14,
 drive rod 18, compression sleeve 20, and seal clip assembly 24 removed.
 FIG. 5 also depicts compression sleeve retainer 22. Frame 12 is preferably
 secured to base 10 in any known manner such as welding or bolting.
 However, in an alternate embodiment, base 10 could be eliminated wherein
 the device 7 could be supported directly by frame 12 resting on a level
 surface. Base 10 and frame 12 are preferably constructed of metal,
 however, other materials, such as high impact resistant plastic could be
 substituted.
 Base 10 is a platen against which die 26 is compressed in order to impress
 a sheet of paper. However, it is understood that a separate rigid surface
 could be substituted for the platen. If base 10 is eliminated as described
 above, a separate, rigid surface positioned substantially perpendicular to
 drive rod 18 would have to be substituted to act as a platen in order to
 support counter 28.
 Frame 12 is substantially an inverted U-shaped structure to provide support
 and a mounting surface for motor 14 (of FIG. 1). Frame 12 includes a
 mounting surface 50 which is parallel to but separated from base 10 a
 sufficient distance as further described below. Side members 52 and 54 of
 frame 12 support mounting surface 50 the predetermined distance from base
 10. Front edges 53 and 55 of side members 52 and 54 are angled from a
 larger width adjacent mounting surface 50 to a reduced width adjacent base
 10 so as to provide a sufficient mounting surface 50 for a motor yet allow
 a piece of paper to be inserted directly beneath an output shaft mount
 hole 48 drilled through mounting surface 50. Accordingly, allowance of the
 proper positioning of the paper within device 7 is achieved. Side members
 52 and 54 may also include a notch 56 therein to further allow access of a
 sheet of paper directly under output shaft hole 48.
 Mounting surface 50 includes a plurality of holes 46 drilled therein to
 facilitate mounting of the motor (14 of FIG. 1) thereon as well as motor
 shaft hole 48 to allow shaft 16 (of FIG. 1) to extend therethrough.
 FIG. 6, a side view of the motor driven seal device 7 of the present
 invention, shows motor 14 mounted thereon. Motor 14 includes internal
 gearing within housing 15 in order to provide rotation of output shaft 16.
 Motor 14 also includes electrical connectors 60 to provide a
 bi-directional electrical circuit to power motor 14 in a conventional
 manner such that power provided in a first direction translates into
 rotation of output shaft 16 in a first direction. Alternately, providing
 power to the electrical circuit through the second connector allows motor
 14 to rotate output shaft 16 in the opposite direction. In the preferred
 embodiment, motor 14 is a gear motor including a gear housing 15 mounted
 to frame 12 on mounting surface 50. Suitable gear motors are available
 commercially. It has been found that a gear motor particularly suitable
 for this application is a permanent magnet 24 volt DC gear motor available
 commercially such as from W.W. Grainger, Inc. It should be understood,
 however, that other gear motors, or even other motors which include a
 shaft capable of rotation in both forward and reverse directions could be
 substituted.
 Gear housing 15 of motor 14 is secured to mounting surface 50. The
 underside of gear housing 15 includes a plurality of screws 64 extending
 therefrom which match holes 46 of mounting surface 50 (of FIG. 5). There
 are four such screws 64 and holes 46 in the preferred embodiment, one
 adjacent each comer of gear housing 15. Bolts 66 are threaded onto screws
 64 underneath mounting surface 50 thereby securing gear housing 15 to
 mounting surface 50. As such, gear housing 15 is secured to frame 12.
 As stated above, gear motor 14 includes an output shaft 16 which extends
 from gear housing 15. Output shaft 16 extends through mounting surface 50
 of frame 12 through output shaft mount hole 48 (FIG. 5).
 A first end 70 of drive rod 18 is drilled out in order to receive a portion
 of output shaft 16 which extends below mounting surface 50. In the
 preferred embodiment, a thrust washer 68, is inserted between first end 70
 of drive rod 18 and mounting surface 50. Output shaft 16 is retained
 within first end 70 of drive rod 18 by a set screw 62.
 Drive rod 18 is drivingly connected to output shaft 16 such that rotation
 of output shaft 16 in either direction by gear motor 14 correspondingly
 rotates drive rod 18. Moreover, the longitudinal axis of drive rod 18 is
 coincident with the longitudinal axis of output shaft 16 such that
 rotation of output shaft 16 translates into rotation of drive rod 18.
 Thrust washer 68 transfers the force from drive rod 18 to mounting surface
 50 and thereby frame 12 when compression sleeve 20 is driven down toward
 base 10 in order to compress die 26 and counter 28. Without thrust washer
 68, this force is transferred to output shaft 16 which could possibly
 cause damage to gear motor 14. Through the use of thrust washer 68, this
 force is transferred to, and dispersed through, frame 12 rather than
 output shaft 16.
 Drive rod 18 is at least partially threaded along its length with
 compression sleeve 20 threaded onto its second end 72 (FIG. 7). In the
 preferred embodiment, compression sleeve 20 is an internally threaded hex
 nut. By way of example, drive rod 18 is a commercially available threaded
 rod of 5/8 inch diameter having an 8 pitch thread. Compression sleeve 20
 is a hex nut having internal threads which mate the threads of drive rod
 18. It is understood that compression sleeve 20 could be of any external
 geometry which mates compression sleeve retainer 22.
 Compression sleeve retainer 22 is affixed to, and thereby supported from
 base 10 in the preferred embodiment. Compression sleeve retainer 22 is
 affixed by any suitable means such as welding or bolting. In an alternate
 embodiment, compression sleeve retainer 22 could be affixed directly to
 frame 12 and supported thereby.
 Compression sleeve retainer 22 is bent at a right angle such that it
 extends from base 10 and encircles compression sleeve 20. A window is cut
 in compression sleeve retainer 22 to allow clip tail 32 to extend
 therethrough.
 Compression sleeve 20 is threaded onto drive rod 18. Compression sleeve
 retainer 22 engages compression sleeve 20 thereby preventing it from
 rotating. As such, rotation of drive rod 18 does not cause corresponding
 rotation of compression sleeve 20. Instead, rotation of drive rod 18
 causes compression sleeve 20 to thread up and down along the length of
 drive rod 18 in response to the direction of rotation of drive rod 18. In
 this way, compression sleeve 20 travels in a path which is parallel to the
 longitudinal axis of drive rod 18. Compression sleeve retainer 22 does not
 restrict compression sleeve 20 from such movement. Compression sleeve 20
 slides within compression sleeve retainer 22.
 FIG. 6 depicts clip assembly 24 inserted within motor driven seal device 7
 such that die 26 and matching counter 28 are positioned directly under
 compression sleeve 20. Clip tail 32 is shown extending beyond compression
 sleeve retainer 22 on base 10. Die 26 and counter 28 are positioned under
 compression sleeve 20 so that when compression sleeve 20 is driven along
 the length of drive rod 18, in response to rotation of drive rod 18, in
 the direction of base 10, compression sleeve 20 compresses die 26 into
 matching engagement with counter 28. A piece of paper placed between die
 26 and counter 28 would thus be impressed with the indicia included on die
 26.
 Die 26 of clip assembly 24 may include a nib 34 thereon. Many known clip
 assemblies include such a nib. Nib 34 supports die 26 and receives the
 compression force necessary to compress die 26 into engagement with
 counter 28. Compression sleeve 20 may include a recess therein of a
 diameter to receive nib 34. Thus, engagement between compression sleeve 20
 and clip assembly 24 is achieved.
 Base 10 provides support for counter 28 when compression sleeve 20
 compresses die 26 into counter 28. As shown, the longitudinal axes of
 output shaft 16, drive rod 18, and compression sleeve 20 are substantially
 perpendicular to base 10. In the embodiment where a separate platen is
 substituted for base 10, the longitudinal axes of output shaft 16, drive
 rod 18, and compression sleeve 20 would be substantially perpendicular to
 the platen.
 As is shown from a side view in FIG. 6, side member 52 of frame 12 tapers
 in width from mounting surface 50 toward base 10 so that clip assembly 24
 extends beyond side member 52. This is to allow a piece of paper to be
 inserted between die 26 and counter 28 unimpeded by side member 52. Notch
 56 in side member 52 provides further access without extending the center
 of gravity of frame 12 beyond the width of side member 52 at base 10. It
 should be understood that the opposite side member 54 (as shown in FIG. 5)
 of frame 12 is similarly shaped.
 FIG. 7 is a front view of motor driven seal device 7 with a clip assembly
 24 inserted therein. In FIG. 7, seal device 7 is shown with compression
 sleeve 20 in a retracted position such that die 26 is biased away from
 counter 28 by clip spring 30 (FIG. 3).
 Compression sleeve 20 is also shown in partial cut away in order to
 demonstrate the relationship between compression sleeve 20 and drive rod
 18. In this retracted position, compression sleeve 20 is threaded onto
 second end 72 of drive rod 18 wherein compression sleeve 20 is raised
 toward mounting surface 50. Compression sleeve 20 slides within
 compression sleeve retainer 22, without rotating, thereby traveling along
 the length of drive rod 18 in response to rotation of drive rod 18 by gear
 motor 14. As such, the effective length of the combination of drive rod 18
 threaded within compression sleeve 20 is reduced.
 In the raised position depicted in FIG. 7, wherein compression sleeve 20 is
 retracted onto the length of drive rod 18, clip assembly 24 may be easily
 inserted or removed. This is accomplished by manually compressing die 26
 toward counter 28 a sufficient amount such that nib 34 clears compression
 sleeve 20. Clip assembly 24 is then slid out from seal device 7. Clip
 assembly 24 is inserted in reverse fashion. The pressure biasing die 26
 from counter 28, nib 34 extending into compression sleeve 20, along with
 clip tail 32 extending through the back of compression sleeve retainer 22
 (discussed further below) together retain clip assembly 24 within seal
 device 7.
 FIG. 8 is the same view as FIG. 7 with the exception that in FIG. 8, the
 effective combined length of drive rod 18 and compression sleeve 20 is
 increased such that compression sleeve 20 compresses die 26 into
 engagement with counter 28 of clip assembly 24. In response to rotation of
 drive rod 18 by gear motor 14, from the position shown in FIG. 7,
 compression sleeve 20 slides within compression sleeve retainer 22,
 without rotating, traveling along the length of drive rod 18 toward base
 10. As can be seen in a comparison of FIG. 7 with FIG. 8, the length of
 drive rod 18 remains unchanged. The effective length of the combination of
 drive rod 18 and compression sleeve 20 is increased and decreased by
 compression sleeve 20 threading along the length of drive rod 18 sliding
 within but being restrained from rotation by compression sleeve retainer
 22. Compression sleeve 20 moves in response to rotation of drive rod 18 by
 gear motor 14. Clip assembly 24, inserted between compression sleeve 20
 and base 10, is compressed so that die 26 is in engagement with matching
 counter 28.
 In FIG. 8, compression sleeve 20 is also shown in partial cut away in order
 to further demonstrate the relationship between compression sleeve 20 and
 drive rod 18 in the compressed position. In this extended compression
 position, compression sleeve 20 is threaded onto second end 72 of drive
 rod 18 wherein compression sleeve 20 is lowered toward base 10.
 Compression sleeve 20 contacts die 26 forcing it toward counter 28.
 Compression sleeve 20 encompasses nib 34. A piece of paper inserted
 between die 26 and counter 28 is impressed with the embossing seal
 contained in die 26. As stated previously, when drive rod 18 and
 compression sleeve 20 are in this compressed position, a reverse force is
 exerted on drive rod 18. This force is then applied to thrust washer 68.
 Thrust washer 68 transfers this force to mounting surface 50, and thereby,
 dissipated through the rest of frame 12.
 FIGS. 9 and 10 are back views of motor driven seal device 7. In FIG. 9, the
 clip assembly is removed in order to show window 11 cut in the back,
 vertical portion of compression sleeve retainer 22. Window 11 allows the
 tail of the clip assembly to extend therethrough. In the preferred
 embodiment, the back of compression sleeve retainer 22 extends the entire
 width of seal device 7 between side members 52 and 54.
 In FIG. 10, clip assembly 24 is installed in seal device 7 so that die 26
 and nib 34 are positioned directly under compression sleeve 26. Clip tail
 32 is shown extending through the back of compression sleeve retainer 22.
 Compression sleeve 20 is in its raised position. In this raised position,
 clip assembly 24 may be inserted and removed from seal device 7 as
 described above.
 While the invention has been described with a certain degree of
 particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details
 of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of this
 disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the
 embodiment set forth herein for purposes of exemplification, but is to be
 limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the
 full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.