Patent GB-447195-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to marking machines
IPC: A43D95/14
Filed: 1934-11-10
Abstract: 447,195. Typewriters &c. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd., ELLIOTT, H. E., and CHOICE, F. C., Belgrave Road, Leicester. Nov. 10, 1934, Nos. 32389/34 and 20536/35. [Class 100 (iv)] Index type-wheel machines.-A marking- machine has a marking-head and a series of marking - members mounted on a shaft supported by the head, each of the marking- members carrying a series of stamps or the like spaced around it and being rotatable about the shaft to present a chosen one of the stamps in position to mark the work, and an arrangement is provided whereby those stamps on some of the members which are in position to mark the work are caused to lie in such a relation behind other stamps, also in position to mark the work, on others of the members that, during a single stamping-operation, the stamps make two parallel rows of marks on the work. The machine is particularly adapted for marking boot or shoe parts, such as linings, to indicate the size, style, &c. of the boot or shoe. The main driving-shaft 3, Fig. 2, is driven by a pulley 5 which may be connected to the shaft by a treadle-operated clutch of the kind disclosed in Specification 720C/07, [Class 43]. A shaft 11, driven by the shaft 3 at' one-third of the speed of the latter, has secured thereto an eccentric 39, the strap 41 of which is pivotally connected to a lever 45 pivoted at 47 to the frame 1 of the machine. An arm 49, also pivoted on the shaft 47, has pivotally connected thereto by a shaft 51 a stamping-disc supporting frame 53. The frame 53 is pivotally connected at 55 to an arm 57 secured on shaft 59, so that the arms 49, 57 form a parallel linkage whereby the frame 53 moves substantially vertically on rotation of the shaft 11. The arm 49 carries a spring-pressed plunger 61 engaged by the lever 45 so that as the latter is swung in an anticlockwise direction the frame 53 is moved downwardly to press the stamp discs resiliently against the workpiece ; the lever 45 returns the frame 53 by the positive engagement of shoulders on the lever and the arm 49. The frame 53 carries twentv-four discs 71, Figs. 18 and 25, rotatably mounted on a horizontal shaft 73 secured to the frame 53. Alternate discs are preferably formed of different metal, for example, gun-metal and stainless steel, to reduce friction between them as they are rotated relatively to each other. Each disc has twelve equally-spaced stamp projections 75, all except one having marking characters such as numbers thereon, the remaining projection having a blank face to take a detachable marking character 81. The projections 75 are twice the width of the disc, and are flush with one side of the disc, and the discs are arranged in pairs, so that the projections of one disc of each pair lie between the projections of the other disc of that pair. The series of pairs of discs 71 are arranged to provide two rows of numbers one behind the other, each row containing a maximum of twelve members. Each disc has projecting laterally from the side thereof which abuts against the other disc of its pair twelve equally spaced cams 83 and adjacent openings 89, the cams of one disc being disposed in the openings of the other disc of that pair. When one disc of a pair is moved relatively to the other, the discs are cammed apart so that the projections 75 can pass each other. The shaft 73 which carries the discs 71 is carried between forked arm extensions of the frame 53. Two clamping- plates mounted on the shaft are adapted to be pressed resiliently towards each other to press the discs 71 together by the engagement therewith of one pair of ends of centrally pivoted arms 113 (not shown). The other pair of ends have adjustable rods 119, Fig. 18, thereon, and a compression spring is arranged between the arms adjacent the rods 119. A shaft 121 rotatably mounted in the disc frame 53 carries two stop plates 123, 125 which normally engage the ends of the rods 119 to prevent the discs 71 from separating laterally, but the shaft can be rotated to allow either of the rods 119 to be moved inwardly. The shaft 121 has secured on it a gear segment 197 which meshes with a gear segment 199 on a shaft 201 rotatably mounted in the shaft 51, and an operating handle 203 is secured to the shaft 201. The two discs 71 of each pair may be rotated separately by a single actuator 131, the twelve actuators being freely pivoted on a shaft 135 supported above the discs in a frame 137 composed of two cross-braced arms 137<a> which extend downwardly and are pivoted to the disc frame 53 coaxially with the axis of the discs. A tooth 133 of a selected actuator is arranged to enter a small gap between adjacent projections 75 of a pair of discs, and may be moved in one direction to rotate one of the discs of the selected pair and in the opposite direction to rotate the other disc of that pair. A shaft 145 mounted in the frame 137 is rotatable in either direction by means of a handle 153, Fig. 2, whereby, through cam means, the frame 137 and with it the actuators 131, is first swung forwardly and then rearwardly during a single revolution of the shaft 145. The particular actuator 131 is selected by a cam 209 mounted on a shaft 211 adapted to be moved transversely of the actuators. Means is provided whereby either of the clamping-plates which press the discs 71 together may be relieved of pressure just prior to the rotation of a disc so that the cams 83 of the disc only need push the rest of the discs aside. To ensure that the actuator operating shaft 145 shall be rotated only in the appropriate direction when it is desired to rotate the right or left-hand disc of any pair, means is provided which is controlled by the shaft 121, which shaft also controls the means for deciding which of the disc clamping-plates is to be relieved of pressure. A row of twelve spring-pressed locking-pawls 223 engage the discs 71, and a pawl arm 233 slightly less than the width of each pawl is mounted on an axially slidable shaft 235, whereby the pawl arm can traverse a groove 229 which extends across the tops of the pawls. The shaft 235 is connected to the shaft 211 in such a manner that when the shaft 211 is set to allow a particular actuator 131 to be depressed, then the arm 233 will be in engagement with the pawl of the disc to be rotated. The movement of the shaft 211 is adapted to operate, through lever mechanism, the rotation of the shaft 235 to withdraw the appropriate pawl. A marking- plate 285 co-operates with the discs 71 and is formed with an opening into which project the stamp projections 75 at the bottoms of the discs 71, and is provided with characters to be marked on the workpiece. The marking-plate 285 is secured to a bar detachably secured in an arm 281 which is adapted to be lowered by means of an eccentric 273 on the shaft 121 when the discs 71 are to be rotated. When the shaft 121 is moved in either direction a discaligning arm 287 is swung away from engagement with the discs. A locking-lever 311 engages all the locking-pawls 223, and when one of the pawls is withdrawn, the lever is moved to prevent rotation of the shaft 121 until the locking-pawl is moved into engagement with the discs 71 ; this prevents damage to the machine, since it guards against incomplete rotation of the shaft 145 which actuates the actuator frame 137. To prevent the machine from being started when the shaft 121 has been moved from its mid-position and the stamp discs are being adjusted, the gear segment 197 on the shaft 121 has pivoted thereto one end of a link 447, the rear end of which is slotted and engaged with a pin on a lever 453. The lever 453 is fixedly pivoted at 455, and the lower end engages a rod 459. When the shaft 121 is moved in either direction from its midposition by the handle 203, the link 447 is moved forwardly to press the rod 459 rearwardly, and the rod prevents the treadle of the clutch of the machine being depressed. A guard consisting of a sheet of glass 483 secured between the front ends of levers 485 is normally positioned in front of the stamp discs 71. The levers 485 are pivoted at 487 to opposite sides of the machine, one of the levers having an upwardly extending arm 489 provided with a spring-pressed latch 491 adapted to engage either of two notches in the frame of the machine according to whether the guard is in the operative or unoperative position. Another extension 501 on the same lever 485 has pivotally connected thereto a link 503 which is slotted at the opposite end to engage the pin on the lever 453. As the guard is raised, the link 503 swings the lever 453 to move the rod 459 to prevent the clutch of the machine being operated. Sheet-clamping arrangements.-The machine may be provided with a stationary worksupport beneath the stamp discs, or a sliding work-support which moves rearwardly to carry the workpiece beneath the stamp discs. The latter form of work-support includes a work table 541 having secured in it a fibre block beneath which is a rubber pad. The table has secured to it a slide mounted in a guideway formed in a support 549, the latter having a screw-threaded stem 551 threaded in a nut whereby the table can be adjusted vertically. The slide is connected by a link 553 pivoted to an arm 555 which is operated from a cam on the shaft 11. The workpiece is placed on the table 541, and side clamps 569 automatically descend to clamp the side edges of the workpiece as the table moves rearwardly towards the marking position, and automatically ascend to release the workpiece as the table moves away from the marking position. Two adjustable pins on the table register the front end of the workpiece. The stationary work-support includes a table having a fibre block mounted on a rubber pad, and a depending stem of the table is slidably mounted in a sleeve which is externally screw-threaded and mounted in a nut whereby the sleeve can be adjusted vertically ; toggle links inside the sleeve, engaging the bottom thereof an