Patent GB-912593-A (GB)
Title: Marking of articles
Inventor: SMITH GEOFFREY
IPC: B41K3/08
Filed: 1959-07-16
Abstract: 912,593. Number-printing apparatus. POLYMARK Ltd. July 16, 1959, No. 35469/60. Divided out of 912,592. Class 100 (2). In mechanism for printing articles such as tabs or labels in batches and having a plurality of number-printing wheels and a batch numberprinting wheel, the batch number-printing wheel is preset according to the number of articles in a batch and sets a batch counter which serves to disable apparatus in which the printing mechanism is incorporated, e.g. a marking machine as described in Specification 912,592, after the number of articles in the batch has been printed, the remaining printing wheels being automatically advanced by one unit at the end of the printing of each batch. As shown, type-wheels 152, 153, 154 are rotatably mounted on a spindle 151 in which is mounted a plurality of radially spring-urged balls 155. Each ball 155 co-operates with a series of depressions in the axial bore of a typewheel to locate the wheel in its various operative positions. Recesses are formed between the type faces of each wheel 152, 153, 154 and are in driving engagement with a row of sprocket wheels 156 of which all but one are connected to a plurality of selector wheels 157 by means of concentric sleeves. The sprocket 156 engaging the batch number wheel 152 is connected to a selector wheel 158 by a spindle 159 and is restrained against rotation in an anti-clockwise direction, Fig. 5, by a spring-pressed pawl 178. Before printing is commenced the wheels 154, 153 are set by means of the wheels 157 to indicate respectively Branch Depot identifying characters and the serial number which is to be printed on the first batch, e.g. to identify the owner of garments to be cleaned, and the wheel 152 is set to print on the label a number corresponding to the number of labels in the batch. A ratchet-wheel 160 is rotatably mounted on the spindle 151 adjacent to the wheel 152 and is prevented from rotating in the clockwise direction, Fig. 6, by a spring-pressed pawl 161. A pin 162 on the side of the wheel 152 is engageable with a pin 163 carried by the ratchet-wheel 160, the pin 163 being engageable with a lever 164 to cam the latter upwards in a clockwise direction about its pivot 165. The lever 164 is connected to a lever 167 which when moved upwards actuates means for stopping the machine in which the number-printing mechanism is mounted. The labels are pressed into contact with the type-wheels by means of a reciprocable platen at each actuation of which a rod 100 is reciprocated vertically. An angle member 173 mounted on top of the rod 100 is pivotally connected at 174 to a swing frame 172 which is rotatably mounted on the spindle 151 and is oscillated by the rod 100. At each oscillation of the frame 172 a pawl 171 thereon rotates the ratchet wheel 60 through one step until, when a complete batch has been printed, the pawl registers with and enters a deep cutout 175 in the periphery of the ratchet. At this point the pin 163 on the ratchet wheel cams the lever 164 upwards and stops the machine while a comb-like series of fingers 177 attached to the pawl 171 engages selectively with depressions of progressively increasing depth formed in members secured to the type wheels 153 to advance the wheels serially in known manner by one unit. Before another batch of labels can be printed the batch number wheel 152 must be reset to indicate the number of labels in the next batch by rotating the selector wheel 158 through its zero position. When this is done the pin 162 is again brought into engagement with the pin 163 so that the ratchet wheel 160 is rotated about the spindle 151 and reset to the appropriate position for counting the next batch, the pawl 171 being forced out of the cut-out 175. An ink ribbon is fed between the type-wheels 152, 153, 154 and the platen; the feed for the ribbon may be operated through a pawl-and-ratchet arrangement from the swing frame 172. The typewheels 154 may be replaced by exchangeable type elements fitted within the printing unit. Means may be incorporated in the machine whereby an impression can be made without actuation of the rod 100 so as to print an identification marking on a customer's receipt or token in addition to the markings on the labels. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 884,906.