Patent GB-190102770-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Labels, Name-plates, Signs or the like.
Inventor: THOMPSON WILLIAM PHILLIPS
Filed: 1901-02-08
Granted: 1901-10-12
Abstract: 2770. Thompson, W. P., [Roovers, A. W., and Roovers, A. H.]. Feb. 8. Stamping and embossing; punching.-Relates to coin-freed machines for producing labels or name plates which may be placed in hats, or attached to boxes, tools, implements, &c., or, when of suitable size, may be used as signs. Fig. 11 shows a name plate as produced by the machine. The characters are embossed in succession on a strip 55 of aluminium or other metal, or other suitable material, and the portion 55<a> is then punched out so as to finish and detach the name plate and also shape the advancing end of the strip in readiness for the next impression. Fig. 3 shows the machine in vertical section from front to rear. On a fixed shaft 10 are rotatably mounted the die-carrying discs 11, 17 and an index plate 30, the three being secured together so as to rotate as one. The disc 11 carries a series of female dies 12, and the disc 17 carries the male dies or punches 18, which are normally held up by springs 22 and are prevented from rotation on their axes by guiding pins and slots 19. In addition to the character dies, the disc 11 carries a die 15, and the disc 17 a punch 16 for the purpose of punching out the portion 55<a>, and the holes 55<b>, Fig. 11. The index plate 30 is provided with a number of radial slots 31 and is marked with characters corresponding with the dies beneath. A cover 32 secured to the shaft 10 carries a hand-lever 36, on the shaft of which is a cam 35 adapted to depress the die 18 situated beneath it by exerting pressure on the split block 38, which is adjustable by means of an expanding or taper screw 39. During the stamping operation, the index plate 30 is locked against movement by the slide 44, which enters one of the radial slots 31. The slide 44 is notched at 51 to allow the index plate to turn when bringing a fresh die to the impression point. The strip of aluminium &c. passes over guide-rollers from a reel situated beneath the machine, and passes horizontally to the feeding mechanism and impression point as indicated by the dotted lines 55 in the sectional plan view, Fig. 7. The feeding mechanism is operated from the horizontal lever 58 through the medium of a connecting link 85. The lever 58 bears a block 61, Fig. 3, carrying an arm 62 and leaf spring 63. When the slide 44 descends, the cam face 52 comes in contact with the spring 63 and forces the lever 58 inwards, i.e., away from the operator. The movement of the lever 58 is limited by the abutment of a pin 65 carried by the block 61 against the bottom of a recess 66 formed in the disc 11. The recesses 66 are of varying depth, so that the movement of the lever 58, and consequently the feed of the strip, is proportionerl to the width of the character to be embossed. The strip-feeding mechanism is shown in Figs. 7 and 8, of which Fig. 8 is a sectional plan which is inverted with respect to Fig. 7, the upper part of Fig. 8 being that which is turned towards the operator. A pair of rollers 91 carried by a spring-tensioned yoke 90 press against one edge of the strip 55, which is prevented from buckling by rollers 87 above and below it. The opposite edge is thus held firmly against the milled edge of a disc 77 on theshaft 74 of a toothed wheel 75. The connecting link 85 from the lever 58 is pivoted to a bell-crank lever turning freely on the shaft 74. The other arm of the bell-crank lever carries a ratchet-wheel 82 and a detent pawl 84, and on the shaft of the ratchet-wheel is a pinion meshing with the gear 75. When the link 85 moves forward, the pinion is prevented from rolling on the gear 75 by the detaining action of the pawl 84, and therefore carries the gear with it and feeds the strip 55. On the return of the link 85, the detent 86 holds the gear 75, and the pinion rolls on its edge. Fig. 10 shows a perspective view taken from the rear of the machine looking towards the face of the feed-operating lever 58. Pivoted at 94<1> to the face of the lever 58. is a gravitating dog 94 bearing at its end a block 95 having a bevelled and serrated face 98. The dog is shown raised in Fig. 10, but it is normally interposed between the lever 58 and a fixed knife-edged plate 99, as shown in Fig. 7. In this position it locks the lever 58 against forward movement and prevents feed of the strip 55. To maintain the dog 94 in the raised position, a pivoted block 103 is provided, which bears an inclined lug 105 and an inclined plate 104. The block 103 is tensioned towards the dog 94 by a spring 108, Fig. 7. To the dog 94 is pivoted a gravity block 99. When a coin is placed in the slide of the machine and the slide is pushed inwards, the arm 102 is actuated and the block 99 and dog 94 are raised. The dog 94 is detained by the lug 105, and when the coin-slide is released the block 99 falls and leaves a clear space between the lever 58 and knife-edged plate 99, the machine being then ready for use. When the name - plate has been embossed, and the punch 16 is depressed to sever it from the strip, a pin 113 carried by the punch acts on the plate 104 so as to push aside the block 103 and release the dog 94, thus locking the feeding mechanism until another coin is supplied. In order to prevent the use of an excessive quantity of strip by repeating the name without operating the punch, or otherwise, a plate 112 is supported on a spring-tensioned rod 106 in the path of the advancing end of the strip. When the strip is fed so far as to press against the plate 112, the rod 106 draws back the block 103, releases the dog 94, and locks the feeding mechanism. The index plate and die carriers may be sector-shaped or straight instead of circular.