Abstract:
A stamp of liquid-exuding type has a multiple-seal-faced assembly adapted for stamping with selected one of these multiple faces, preferably for stamping with multiple colors.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    Roller stamps of ink-exuding type are generally well known. Such roller stamps include a rotatably supported stamp roller of ink-exuding type that is adapted to be rolled on surface to thereby transfer letters, figures, numerals, symbols, photos or the like from the roller surface to the surface to be stamped. Known roller stamps have a mechanism to define the leading edge and trailing edges of the roller stamp so that the entire seal face of the roller stamp can be reliably transferred to the surface to be stamped. Known roller stamps can contribute to the protection of the environment relative to adhesive labels, and it is expected that such roller stamps will be widely used for this reason.  
           [0002]    Various indications are necessary, for example, on corrugated cardboard shipping boxes, such as destination, article name, article number, bar codes, content description, and instruction for handling. Conventionally, these indications common to many corrugated cardboard boxes can be directly printed on the boxes. Such indications may include the destinations and the instructions for handling (e.g. “Fragile”, “Don&#39;t Turn Over”, “Don&#39;t Throw”, “Don&#39;t Lay Down”, etc.). Label seals protected by release paper have often been used for such applications. For such label seals, a large number of labels previously printed with various instructions are typically stored and an appropriate seal is then selected and affixed it to the box. Blank labels have usually been stamped or printed with the destination and then affixed to the box.  
           [0003]    Release paper has generated troublesome refuse, and the operation of peeling the label seals off from the boxes for the purpose of reusing the used corrugated cardboard boxes requires time and labor. The label seals that have been peeled off also generate refuse and cause environmental problems.  
           [0004]    The problems described above can be avoided by using a roller stamp to transfer various indications directly on the corrugated cardboard box without use of the label seals themselves. Troublesome operation of affixing and peeling off the label seals is not necessary, such that the operating cost is reduced, and generation of refuse is avoided. However, a flat stamp, it is difficult to stamp uniformly, particularly when the seal face is relatively large and a considerable force is necessary to achieve this. In contrast, roller stamps enable a distinct transfer to be carried out with a light touch since each cycle of stamping is completed by continuous line contacts as the roller stamp rotates through a 360° range.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention provides a novel roller stamp of ink-exuding type including a simplified mechanism to define the position at which the transfer is started and ended. This invention also provides a simplified process for making such a roller stamp.  
           [0006]    One aspect of the invention is a roller stamp of ink-exuding type comprising a stamp roller of ink-exuding type, a seal face on a cylindrical surface of said stamp roller. A ratchet wheel is provided on one end surface of said stamp roller so as to lie inside a peripheral wall of said stamp roller. The ratchet wheel has a locking recess adapted to define a position at which each cycle of stamping is started and completed, and a locking projection elastically biased to be engaged with said locking recess. A control mechanism is adapted to disengage said locking projection from said locking recess. The position at which the locking projection comes in engagement with the locking recess corresponds to the position at which each cycle of stamping is started and completed. With the locking projection disengaged from the locking recess, the roller is fully rotated and thereupon the locking projection comes into engagement with the locking recess again to stop further rotation of the roller. In this way, the seal face of the roller stamp can be accurately stamped on the object to be stamped.  
           [0007]    The roller stamp of ink-exuding type according to the present invention further comprises a roller supporting cover frame rotatably supporting the stamp roller of ink-exuding type by its roller shaft supporting side plates and provided with an opened region in which the stamp roller is partially exposed. The locking projection and control mechanism are formed on one of the roller shaft supporting side plates. Operation of stamping can be easily carried out by merely manipulating the control mechanism with the roller supporting cover frame held in hand.  
           [0008]    The roller supporting cover frame includes a cylindrical member having the opened region facing downward in which said stamp roller is partially exposed, and the roller shaft supporting side plates are detachably mounted on longitudinally opposite ends of the cylindrical member. The roller supporting cover frame has a cylindrical shape which facilitates the operation of stamping.  
           [0009]    The roller shaft supporting side plate has the locking projection on its inner side. The locking projection is elastically biased downward, and the roller shaft supporting side plate is provided on its outer side with a control button adapted to move the locking projection upward and thereby disengage the locking projection from the locking recess of the ratchet wheel. The operation of stamping starting from the leading edge of the seal face and ending at the tail edge of the seal face can be reliably achieved by a single cycle of stamping.  
           [0010]    The stamp roller of ink-exuding type comprises a cylindrical ink reservoir formed of thermoplastic synthetic resin and provided with a central shaft extending through respective central zones of its longitudinally opposite side walls. The stamp roller also includes a cylindrical seal face member formed of ink-permeable thermoplastic synthetic resin that is heat-sealable with the ink reservoir and fits around said ink reservoir. The ink reservoir and the seal face member are formed of the same type of the same material and a high workability for heat-sealing or the like is obtained.  
           [0011]    The cylindrical ink reservoir includes a plurality of ink supplying through-holes on its peripheral wall. The ink reservoir may be filled with ink such that the roller stamp may be used for a long period without resupplying the reservoir with ink.  
           [0012]    The longitudinally opposite end surfaces of the ink reservoir are heat-sealed with longitudinally opposite end surfaces of the seal face member. In this way, there is no risk that any quantity of ink might leak sideways from the ink reservoir or from the seal face member. One of the end walls of the ink reservoir includes an ink supplement through-hole. When the ink reservoir becomes short of ink, the reservoir can be supplemented with ink.  
           [0013]    Another aspect of this invention is a process for making a roller stamp of ink-exuding type. The method includes the steps of molding material for the ink reservoir and ink-permeable material for the seal face member into long tubular stock materials using pipe-extruder. The tubular stock materials are cut to the same length to make each set of ink reservoir and seal face member for the stamp roller. In this way, it is possible to select a width of the seal face and thereby to reduce the manufacturing cost.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a roller stamp of ink-exuding type according to the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view showing a roller stamp according to the present invention, wherein the outer portion of the control mechanism has been separated from the main body;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view showing the operative relationship between the inner side of the control mechanism and the ratchet wheel;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view showing a roller stamp according to the present invention with the side plate opposite the control mechanism separated from the main body;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the control mechanism of the roller stamp according to the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the entire roller stamp of the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the roller stamp of the present invention wherein the locking projection of the control mechanism is in engagement with the locking recess of the ratchet wheel for positioning of the leading edge of the seal face member;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII; FIG. 7;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the roller stamp of the present invention wherein the locking projection of the control mechanism is out of engagement with the ratchet wheel;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X; FIG. 9;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the stamp roller;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 12 is an exploded sectional view showing the stamp roller;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 13 is an exploded sectional view showing the ink reservoir; and  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 14 is an exploded sectional view showing the cylindrical ink reservoir and the cylindrical seal face member. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]    For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.  
         [0029]    With reference to FIGS.  1 - 3 , a roller-stamp  1  of ink exuding type according to the present invention includes a stamp roller  1  of ink-exuding type, and a roller supporting cover frame  2  rotatably supporting this stamp roller  1 . The roller-stamp also includes a control mechanism  3  that ensures a full rotation of the stamp roller  1  starting from a leading edge and ending at a tail edge of its seal face for every cycle of stamping.  
         [0030]    With further reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, the stamp roller  1  of ink-exuding type includes a cylindrical ink reservoir  4  that is preferably formed of polyolefine-based thermoplastic synthetic resin and a cylindrical seal face member  5  formed of spongy material of thermoplastic synthetic resin heat-welded to the outer peripheral surface of the ink reservoir  4 . Side plates  6 A and  6 B close the longitudinal opposite end openings of the cylindrical ink reservoir  4 . The side plates  6 A,  6 B have central thick wall regions  7  protruding inwardly and outwardly with respect to the ink reservoir to define outwardly opening recesses. Central rotary shafts  8 A and  8 B are embedded in the recesses of wall regions  7 , and extend outwardly therefrom. The peripheral surfaces of the ink reservoir  4  are formed with a plurality of through-holes  9  serving as ink passages through which the ink from the ink reservoir  4  exudes in the seal face member  5 . Opposite surfaces of the ink reservoir  4  defined by the side plates  6 A and  6 B are flush with the opposite surfaces of the seal face member  5  and heat sealed with each other in order to avoid sideways leakage of ink from the sides of the stamp roller  1 .  
         [0031]    Although the cylindrical ink reservoir may be in the form of an integral cylinder, it is preferable to fabricate a complete cylinder by coupling two cylinder halves that were previously divided along a longitudinal middle zone  10 . This permits the side plates  6 A and  6 B to be joined to the cylinder halves prior to coupling the cylinder halve to each other in a butt joint fashion in the middle zone  10 . This arrangement provides improved fabrication compared to having the side plates  6 A and  6 B attached to a complete cylinder. Side plate  6 A includes an ink supplement through-hole  11 , and side plate  6 B includes a ratchet wheel described in more detail below.  
         [0032]    The stamp roller  1  including the ink reservoir  4  and the seal face member  5  integrally joined as described above is then provided with side wall covers  12 ,  13  at its opposite sides. Each of the side wall covers  12 ,  13  is a disc-like member having a square U-shaped cross-section defining shallow peripheral walls  14 A and  14 B. The side wall covers  12  and  13  include central through-holes  15 A and  15 B that are adapted to receive the thick wall regions  7 A and  7 B of the side plates  6 A and  6 B, respectively of the ink reservoir  4 . The covers  12  and  13  are thereby attached to the sides of the stamp roller  1  with the peripheral walls  14 A and  14 B thereof opening outward.  
         [0033]    The side wall over  12  attached to the side plate  6 A includes a through-hole  16  in alignment with the through-hole  11  to provide for ink supplement. A stopper  17  normally blocks the through-hole  16 . To align these ink supplement through-holes  11  and  16  with each other, the side plate  6  includes a recess  18  and the side wall cover  12  includes a protuberance  19  extending inward. The protuberance  19  can be engaged with the recess  18  to achieve the desired alignment.  
         [0034]    Side wall cover  13  includes a ratchet wheel inside its peripheral wall  14 B. As described in more detail below, ratchet wheel  20  includes a locking recess  20  adapted to cooperate with a locking projection of the control mechanism  3  to achieve positioning and ensure a full rotation of the stamp roller  1  starting from the leading edge and ending at the tail edge of the seal face.  
         [0035]    With reference to FIG. 3, the roller supporting cover frame  2  includes a main body  22  formed by partially cutting away a cylinder having a diameter larger than that of the stamp roller  1  to define an open region  23  in which the stamp roller  1  is partially exposed and a pair of roller shaft supporting side plates  24  and  25  adapted to close the open ends of main body  22 . The roller shaft supporting side plates  24  and  25  are planar plates having substantially the same shape as the cross-sectional shape of the main body  22 . The roller shaft supporting side plates  24  and  25  each have a rim  26  along the peripheral edge that extends inward. Rims  26  are formed in a region corresponding to the central region of the cylinder having an associated bearing  27  or  28 . The central rotary shafts  8 A and  8 B are rotatably supported by bearings  27  and  28 . The roller shaft supporting side plates  24  and  25  are fixed to the periphery of main body  22  by screws  29 . In this state, the stamp roller  1  is rotatably supported by the roller supporting cover frame  2  so that the stamp roller  1  may be partially exposed in the open region  23  of the roller supporting cover frame  2 . The bearing  28  comprises an inwardly extending short sleeve on the side plate  25 . As described in more detail below, bearing  28  slidably supports a locking projection of the control mechanism  3 .  
         [0036]    The control mechanism  3  is incorporated in the roller shaft supporting plate  25  on the side of the stamp roller  1  including the ratchet wheel  20 . The mechanism  3  includes locking projection  30  on the inside of side plate  25 , and a control member  31  (see also FIG. 5) mounted on the outer side of side plate  25  to actuate the locking projection  30 . The locking projection  30  extends downward from an actuator plate  32  having a longitudinal central slit  33  adapted to receive the sleeve-shaped bearing  28 . The actuator plate  32  is slidably guided in vertical direction along guide members  34  projecting from the inner side of side plate  25 . Actuator plate  23  is biased downwardly by a spring  35 . Spring  35  is disposed between a spring seat  36  on an upper part of the actuator plate  32  and a spring seat  37  mounted on side plate  25 .  
         [0037]    The actuator plate  32  includes an outwardly projecting actuator pin  38 . Actuator pin  38  extends outward through a longitudinal slit  39  in side plate  25 . The control member  31  is supported by a pair of guide projections  40 A and  40 B on the outer surface of side plate  25  for vertical movement of control member  31 . Control member  31  includes a locking slit  41  adapted to receive and thereby lock the actuator pin  38  extending outward through the slit  39  of the side plate  25 . The control member  31  is covered with a cover plate  42  that is detachably secured to the outer surface of the side plate  25  by screws  43 . The control member  31  is vertically movable within the cover member  42  and is biased downwardly by a spring  44 .  
         [0038]    The control member  31  includes a locking recess  45  on its outer side adapted to receive and lock an engaging end of a control button  47  supported within the cover member  42  by a pin  46 . The engaging end of the control button  47  may be engaged with the locking recess  45 , and the end of the control button  47  projecting outward through the cover member  42  may be depressed to move the control member  31 , and thereby to move the actuator pin  38  in engagement with the locking slit  41  upward. Thus, the actuator plate  32  and its locking projection  30  are moved upward. Reference numeral  48  (FIG. 1) designates the direction in which a roller stamp according to this invention is actuated and moved.  
         [0039]    The roller stamp of ink-exuding type according to this invention as described above is normally in a state wherein the locking projection  30  of the control mechanism is in engagement with the locking recess  21  of the ratchet wheel  20 . This state is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in which the roller stamp  1  according to this invention is ready to start a cycle of stamping from the leading edge of the seal face.  
         [0040]    During operation, the cover frame  2  is held, and the exposed part of the stamp roller  1  exposed in the opened region is pressed against a surface to be stamped, and the control button  47  of the control mechanism  3  is depressed. The engaging end of control button  47  moves the control member  31  upward, and control member  31  moves the actuator plate  32  by means of the actuator pin  38 . The locking projection  30  is thereby moved upward and disengaged from the locking recess  21  of the ratchet wheel  20  as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.  
         [0041]    From this state, the roller stamp  1  may be moved in the direction of arrow  48  (arrow A in FIG. 10) marked on side plate  25  of the cover frame  2  to roll the stamp roller  1  clockwise as viewed in FIG. 10. When the control button  47  is relieved from a depressing force, the locking projection  30  is pressed against the ratchet wheel  20  by the spring  35 . However, the stamp roller  1  is not prevented from smoothly rolling. Upon completion of a full rolling of the stamp roller  1 , the engaging projection  30  comes into engagement with the locking recess  21  and the stamp roller  1  stops rolling. Each stamping cycle is completed in this manner.  
         [0042]    During fabrication, material for the ink reservoir  4  and ink-permeable material for the seal face member  5  constituting the stamp roller  1  are molded into long tubular stock materials using a pipe-extruder. These tubular stock materials are cut to the proper length to make the ink reservoir  4  and seal face member  5  for the stamp roller.  
         [0043]    Through-holes  9  are formed in the ink reservoir  4 , and the cylindrical ink reservoir  4  is then fit in the cylindrical seal face member  5  until the longitudinal end surfaces of these cylindrical components  4  and  5  become flush with each other, such that components  4  and  5  become integral. The side walls  6 A and  6 B are inserted into the ink-reservoir against its inner peripheral edges, and thereafter joint surfaces of these side walls, ink reservoir and seal face member are integrally heat sealed to prevent ink from leaking sideways.