Marking device utilizing dual rod power cylinder

An imprint marking device utilizing transfer tape moved from a tape supply reel to a take-up reel across an imprint station with a moving marker head having raised indicia movable against the tape to press the tape against an article to be marked. A tape drive system includes a drive roller and an opposed idler roller. Both the tape drive system and the marker head are actuated by a single power cylinder which has power rods extending from opposite ends connected to a single common internal piston, one of the rods operating the marker head and the other of the rods operating the tape drive system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to marking systems and more particularly to transfer 
tape imprint markers. 
2. Prior Art 
Imprint markers are commonly used in industry today. A frequent usage is 
for applying last minute information to product packaging, such as code 
dating, net weight, price and the like which information cannot 
conveniently be applied to the packaging at the time of original printing 
of the packaging. 
Such marking devices generally fall into one of three catagories: ink 
devices such as those using stamp pads or ink rollers; inked tape devices; 
and transfer tape devices. Transfer tape and ink tape devices can, for the 
purposes of this invention be considered substantially the same since both 
rely upon movement of a tape, either called a ribbon or a foil, past an 
imprint marker station where a marker head having raised indicia thereon 
is contacted with the tape urging the tape, in the areas of the raised 
indicia, into contact with the product to be marked. 
A common feature to such systems is the necessity of advancing the tape 
between imprints. This is particularly critical in connection with 
transfer tape where substantially all of the pigment has been transferred 
from a carrier strata to the product to be marked in the contact areas of 
the raised indicia. Should the raised indicia hit the same area a second 
time no pigment will be transferred. 
It has been a common constructional method in the past to use power 
actuators such as pneumatic cylinders to move both the marking head and 
the tape drive system. In the context of this invention, a pneumatic 
cylinder can be either air, air-hydraulic, hydraulic, or in certain 
limited instances, electrical, including solenoids and trapped wax power 
members. 
Commonly such marking devices have connected the power arm of the pneumatic 
cylinder to a cam and follower assembly which is operatively connected to 
the marker head or to a moving anvil in the case of a stationary marker 
head. A linkage system then connects the cam or follower to the tape 
drive. 
Examples of such prior constructions are to be found in U.S. Pat. No. 
3,878,776 utilizing a moving anvil and linkage to a tape drive and U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,823,664 utilizing a common slide bar having contoured slots in 
which follower wheels ride, one of which is connected to the moving anvil 
and the other of which is connected to a tape drive system. A construction 
similar to U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,664 but where a stationary anvil is 
utilized in association with a moving marker head with the marker head 
attached to the slide member through a contoured groove connection is also 
found in the art. 
Finally it has been known to use separate pneumatic actuators for the 
marking head and for the tape drive. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,410. 
The use of separate power supplies for the marking and tape portions of the 
marking device is uneconomical and gives rise to control and timing 
problems. 
The use of linkage systems from a common power arm of a single pneumatic 
actuator both creates sloppiness within the system and interposes 
unnecessary parts between the pneumatic actuator and the device that it is 
actuating, causing problems of space utilization and pivot area wear. 
It would, therefore, be an advance in the art to provide an imprint marker 
which eliminates the prior multi-piece linkage and slide systems while at 
the same time utilizing only a single pneumatic actuator. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
It is therefore a principle object of this invention to provide a transfer 
tape imprinter which utilizes a single pneumatic cylinder both for 
movement of the marking head and for movement of the tape drive but which 
avoids the complex linkage systems of prior constructions by eliminating 
use of a single power arm for both marker head and tape drive activations. 
Such a construction is achieved by utilizing a pneumatic cylinder having 
power rods projecting from both axial ends of the cylinder. One of the 
power rods is connected directly to the marker head assembly while the 
other power rod drives the tape feed through a simple linkage. By 
utilizing a dual rod cylinder, it is unnecessary to complicate the 
pneumatic cylinder to a print head connection by any linkage or other 
interposed construction to provide for drive to the tape transport. 
Further, by providing an independent tape transport from a second power 
rod, the tape transport mechanism can be located entirely away from the 
marker head thereby avoiding space problems while at the same time 
allowing the tape drive to be constructed substantially without reference 
to the marking head drive so that only factors pertinent to the tape drive 
need be considered. This allows simplification of the tape drive power 
train. Additionally, use of a single cylinder avoids timing problems. 
In the preferred embodiment illustrated, a common plate frame is provided 
which has rotatable tape supply and take-up reels mounted thereon and 
which support a dual rod cylinder with the rods projecting axially of the 
cylinder. One of the rods is connected directly to a marker head carrier 
member thereby providing a direct drive to the marker head. The other rod 
is attached directly to a cam block having a cam wheel riding in a slot. 
The use of the cam block allows the linear back and forth motion of the 
power arm to be transferred to an arcuate motion of the cam wheel. The cam 
wheel is attached to an arm of a one-way clutch driving shaft attached to 
the tape drive roller. A second one-way clutch is attached to the roller 
shaft and to the frame to prevent back rotation upon reverse movement of 
the pneumatic cylinder power arm. 
An idler roller is urged against the drive roller with the tape passing 
therebetween, the tape thereafter being guided through an imprint station 
underlying the marker head to the take-up reel. The take-up reel is driven 
by a power take-off from the drive roll. 
In the preferred embodiment, the drive roll is positioned up-stream of the 
imprint station and pushes the tape from the supply reel towards the 
take-up reel. The clutches are arranged to advance the tape when the print 
head is being drawn back from the imprint station. The drive to the 
take-up reel is a slip drive constructed such that although the take-up 
reel maintains a pressure drawing the tape onto the reel, the movement of 
the tape is controlled by the tape push drive roll assembly. 
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a transfer tape 
marking device utilizing a pneumatic cylinder having power arms extending 
from either axial end thereof, one of the power arms connected to a marker 
head and the other of the power arms connected to a tape drive. 
It is another and more specific object of this invention to provide a 
transfer tape marker device having a moving marker head and a tape drive 
for advancing a tape between supply and take-up reels past an imprint 
station, the marker head moving towards and away from the imprint station, 
a single pneumatic cylinder having power arms projecting from either axial 
end, one of which is attached to the marker head for movement thereof and 
the other one of which is operatively attached to a drive wheel for a tape 
drive mechanism, the tape drive being through a one-way clutch whereby 
tape is advanced during only one of the forward or backward movements of 
the marker head. 
It is another, particular, object of this invention to provide an imprint 
marker device having a single pneumatic cylinder with power rods 
projecting from either end thereof, one of which is attached to a moving 
marking head and the other of which is attached to a tape drive system, 
the tape drive system including a drive roller and opposed spring biased 
idler roller with the tape passing therebetween, the tape drive being on 
the in-feed side of an imprint station and adapted to push the tape 
through the station, the tape drive being actuated only as the marker head 
is being withdrawn from the imprint station. 
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily 
apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, 
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations 
and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and 
scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure, and in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 illustrates, generally, a marker assembly according to this 
invention for use with transfer tape. The assembly includes a common plate 
frame 11 having an anvil or support arm 12 attached thereto. At a free end 
of the anvil support arm, an adjustable anvil assembly 13 is attached 
having a pad 13A underlying an imprint station 14. A marker head assembly 
15 acts at the imprint station to imprint a product to be marked. The 
frame 11 rotatably supports tape supply 16 and take-up 17 reels which 
supply and take up transfer tape 25. A tape drive assembly 18 is also 
carried by the frame as is a pneumatic cylinder 19 having power rods 21 
and 22 projecting from opposite axial ends thereof. Guides 30 guide the 
tape from the supply reel 16 to the take-up reel 17 past the imprint 
station 14. As shown, one of the power arms 21 is attached to the marker 
head assembly 15 while the other power arm 22 is operatively attached to 
the tape drive 18. 
The marker head assembly, in the embodiment illustrated, which makes use of 
transfer tape having a transferable pigment layer coated on a base strata, 
includes a heater block 40 which is electronically heated and carries a 
type bar 41 having raised indicia 42 thereon. A carrier member 43 is 
bolted to the end of the power arm 21. Adjustment screws 44 connect the 
carrier to the heater block. As the power arm 21 is moved inwardly and 
outwardly of the cylinder 19, the marker head will be moved towards and 
away from the imprint station 14. 
The pneumatic cylinder 19 is attached to a ledge 50 which in turn is 
attached to the frame 11 by means of bolts 51. The cylinder 19 is of a 
common design and has an internal piston 55 received in a cylinder. The 
piston being attached to the power rods 21 and 22 and dividing the 
cylinder into two chambers each of which has a combination inlet and 
exhaust port 56 which is in communication to a nipple fitting 57 
accessible from the back of the frame 11 through openings 58 for 
attachment to a pneumatic or hydraulic source including appropriate 
valving for controlling the activation of the cylinder. 
Although the controlling forms no part of this invention, it is to be 
understood that such controlling can be timed, can be activated by product 
sensing, can provide for a dwell period of the indicia at the imprint 
station, can control speed of operation so as to provide smooth tape 
movement and can be otherwise varied to suit the individual printing needs 
in connection with which the marking assembly is being used. 
The ledge 50 has a projection 60 underlying the marker head preventing 
rotation thereof. Additionally the frame 11 is provided with a large slot 
opening 61 through which the power and thermostat controls for the heater 
block can be fed from the reverse side of the frame 11. 
The tape drive 18 includes a drive roller 70 and an opposed idler roller 71 
with the tape being wound through the nip area between the rolls whereby 
rotation of the drive rolls 70 will push the tape from the tape supply 
reel towards the take-up reels 17. 
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the tape drive includes a cam block 
80 affixed to the end of power arm 22. The cam block has a back wall 81 
through which the power arm extends, the power arm being provided with a 
threaded end 82 for receipt of a nut 83 whereby the position of the cam 
block 80 on the power arm can be adjusted. The cam block includes a slot 
84 which receives a cam roller 85 which, as best illustrated in FIG. 3 is 
attached to a lever plate 86 of a one-way clutch 87. The one-way clutch is 
affixed to the shaft 88 of the drive roller 70. A second one-way clutch 89 
affixed to the shaft 88 is pinned to the frame 11 as at 90. The two 
one-way clutches cooperate such that movement of the power arm 22 away 
from the cylinder will cause rotation of the drive roller 70 while 
movement of the power arm 22 towards the cylinder 19 will not cause 
rotation of the drive cylinder. The shaft 88 is affixed to the frame 11 
and projects therethrough through a bearing block 91 and terminates in a 
sheave wheel 92 which rotates with the shaft. The sheave wheel by means of 
a belt or similar drive member 93 drives a sheave wheel 95 attached to a 
shaft 96 of the take-up reel 17, the shaft 96 being supported in a bearing 
block 97 attached to the frame 11. A bumper member 100 is adjustably 
attached to the frame by means of bolt 101 received through an elongated 
frame slot 102. The bumper member has a rubber padded bumper wall 103 
which acts as a stop for the cam block back wall 81. 
As best illustrated in FIG. 6, the idler roll 71 is rotatably carried on a 
shaft 110 affixed to the end of arm 111 which in turn is pivotably 
attached to frame 11. A coil spring 112 has one end attached to the frame 
11 as at 113 and the other end attached to an intermediate portion of the 
lever arm as at 116. The spring 112 biases the idler roll 71 against the 
drive roll 70 closing the nip and entrapping the tape. The spring 112, if 
desired, may have an overcenter attachment position 113 so that the idler 
roll can be drawn outwardly and snap into a held open position to 
facilitate tape changing. A release arm 114 may also be provided. 
A brake system 120 is provided for the supply reel 16 and includes a sheave 
wheel 121 attached to an end of supply reel shaft 122, the supply reel 
shaft being attached to the frame 11 through a bearing assembly 123 as 
best illustrated in FIG. 3. A stationary sheave reel 125 is eccentrically 
affixed to the frame 11 as illustrated in FIG. 7. A belt or long Oring 130 
passes between the sheave wheels 125 and 121 providing a brake for the 
supply reel. 
One feature of the present invention is the fact that the tape drive 18 
operates only on the backstroke of the marker head assembly 15 so that 
tape is moved past the imprint station 14 only as the marker head is being 
withdrawn. This means that there will be no tape motion during imprint as 
the marker head is being moved into the imprint station to move the tape 
against the product and the product against the anvil 13. Such movement 
could stress the tape, or result in a smeared print. Further, the tape 
drive pushes the tape through the imprint station rather than pulling it 
through the imprint station so that should the tape tend to stick to the 
raised indicia 42, it will not be ripped or stressed by stretching it over 
the indicia since the tape will be pushed by the tape drive to free the 
tape at the raised indicia as the marker head is being withdrawn. 
Thereafter the slight stress being applied to the tape by the take-up reel 
through the belt 93 will draw the tape on the take-up reel. 
One advantageous feature of the present construction is the fact that both 
the marker head and the tape drive connections are axially aligned with 
the cylinders such that there are no side stresses applied to the power 
arms. The power arms, being received in bushings 140 and 141 at the ends 
of the air cylinder and being connected together at the piston, provide a 
rigid, smooth working power train which is not subjected to side stresses. 
Other advantages of a double rod air cylinder are the provisions of an 
increased bearing surface caused by the use of bearings at both ends of 
the cylinder. This not only provides for a longer service life but also 
provides a much steadier power rod when either of the rods 21 or 22 is 
fully extended. This is particularly advantageous in connection with the 
print rod 21. 
It can therefore be seen from the above that my invention provides an 
improved marker device, particularly of the transfer tape variety, wherein 
a marker head is moved towards and away from an imprint station while 
transfer tape is moved by means of a tape drive, the movement of the 
marker head being caused by a first power arm of a hydraulic cylinder and 
the movement of the tape drive being caused by a second power arm of the 
hydraulic cylinder, the power arms projecting from opposite ends of the 
cylinder and the marker head and tape drives being located on opposite 
ends of the cylinder. 
Although the teachings of my invention have herein been discussed with 
reference to specific theories and embodiments, it is to be understood 
that these are by way of illustration only and that others may wish to 
utilize my invention in different designs or applications.