Patent GB-587486-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to machines for embossing and forming nameplates and the like
IPC: B44B5/00
Filed: 1944-09-08
Abstract: 587,486. Embossing name-plates &c. SHAW, J., and GARRARD, C. G. Sept. 8, 1944, Nos. 17205 and 21001. [Classes 100 (i), 100 (ii) and 100 (iv)] [Also in Groups VIII and XXII] Embossing.-A machine for making nameplates, labels &c. of plastic material such as cellulose acetate or the material known under the Registered Trade Mark " Ivorine," by embossing in colour and punching out to shape, the material strip and the colour foil are fed through the machine in directions at rightangles to one another and the embossing and punching tools are mounted on a single presshead. The machine comprises a pedestal 1, Fig. 9, to which is fixed a casting 2, Fig. 6, carrying the lower die-plate 3 and gearing for the strip and foil feed-rollers and also having attached thereto another casting 4 on which the power unit is mounted. The latter consists of an electric motor driving through worm-gearing 8, Fig. 3, and a dog-clutch 26, ' a shaft 9 coupled by reduction gearing to the main cam shaft 10. The press head 5 which carries the type and is heated electrically is supported above the die-plate by springs 31 on guide rods 13 attached to a crosshead 14 and is depressed, when the shaft 10 is rotated, by a member on the shaft comprising an enlarged part 16 in which are housed three pairs of balls 12. The stroke of the presshead can be adjusted by means of nuts 19 on the rods 13 rotatable by a gear 20 operated by a handwheel 22. To operate the machine by hand, the clutch 26 is disconnected by a lever 27, and a hand-turned shaft 11 is pushed inwardly against the action of a spring 29 so that a gear 30 thereon meshes with a gear 25 on the shaft 10. Plates 89 secured to the die-plate 3 guide the stock and plates 91 with inwardly-extending lips strip the stock from the punches, the stock being held during the embossing &c. operation by the spring thimble 94 which presses it against the plate 3. The other thimbles bear against a bridge plate fixed to but spaced from the plate 3. If it is desired that the lettering of a transverse line of lettering should be in one or more colours, the sets of type for the different-coloured lettering are spaced from each other in the line of feed a distance equal to the length of one label, and a number of successive operations of the press equal to the number of colours to be applied are necessary. Feeding webs ink-ribbon mechanism.-The colour foil 62 is fed from a roll through the machine from front to back by rollers 44, 46, Fig. 8, and the stock strip 60 is fed transversely thereto by rollers 54 ... 57, Fig. 6. The drive comprises a link 36, one end of which is adjustable in a slot in a disc 32, Fig. 3, on the shaft to vary the feeds, and the other end operates a one-way clutch 37 on a shaft 38. A gear 42, Fig. 7, on the shaft 38 drives a gear 43 attached to the roller 44 which is free on its shaft 45. The roller 46 is pressed against the roller 44 by a leaf spring 47. The lower rollers 54, 55 of the stock-strip feeding rollers are driven from the shaft 38 through gearing 49, 50, 52, 53, the upper rollers being spring- pressed downwardly. To vary the strip-feed relatively to the foil feed, the gears 49, 50 are replaced by other gears. As the press-head descends, tappets 61, Fig. 6, on the head engage levers 63 which raise the upper rollers to free the foil and strip. The levers 63 may be operated by handles 64 when the foil and strip are initially threaded through the machine. Brakes 41, 48, Fig. 7 and 58, 59, Fig. 6 are provided for the shaft 38 and rollers 40, 44, and 54, 55 respectively to prevent backlash. Printing-surfaces.-Co-operating with the die-plate 3 and aligned therewith by dowel pins 77 is a punch-plate 71, Fig. 14, maintained in contact with the presshead 5 by springs 75, 93 enclosed in slidable thimbles 76, 94 respectively, the parts 75, 93 being situated at the ends of the plates 3, 71. A type-holding frame 81, Fig. 11, is secured to the plate 71 by two bolts 80 adjustable in a pair of slots 79 in the plate 71. More than one type-holder may be employed in which case a corresponding number of colour foils is provided.