Patent GB-738567-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for successively marking articles
IPC: B44B5/02
Filed: 1950-09-19
Abstract: 738,567. Engraving. COOKE, E. A., and KAPELLA, Ltd. Sept. 19, 1951 [Sept. 19, 1950], No. 22975/50. Class 100 (2). Apparatus for successively marking articles comprises an annular carrier or magazine having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cells or holders for the articles to be marked, each article carried by a cell or holder being exposed at or near the inner circumference of the annular magazine, a marking device which can be advanced in a direction away from the axis of the magazine and towards the inner circumference thereof, and means causing relative step-by-step movement between the marking device and annular magazine about the central axis thereof in timed relation with the advancement and retraction of the marking device, so that each cell or holder in turn is brought into, and caused to dwell at, a marking station, and the marking device is advanced to mark the article at the said station and retracted therefrom, whereupon another cell or holder is positioned at the marking station and the sequence repeated. An annular carrier 29, Fig. 2, is rotated intermittently within a cylindrical casing and is provided with a series of equally spaced holders or compartments iound its circumference, so that each compartment in turn dwells at a loading station L, aligning station A, marking stations M, M<SP>2</SP> and ejection station E. Mining detonators consisting of copper cylinders are placed one into each compartment with the cylinder axes radial with respect to the carrier 29. At the alignment station, each cylinder is moved inwardly further than is required for marking, and is then pushed outwardly into correct radial position. A marking device 80 comprises a continuously rotating tool which is moved outwardly into contact with the end of a cylinder dwelling at station M, caused to move over the cylinder in the profile of a desired letter or figure, and then retracted. A second marking device 81 is similar, and makes a second mark, spaced from the first, at station M <SP>2</SP>. The marking action is a stamping action, the metal being displaced along the character profile but not cut away. The carrier 29 is rotated by a motor 46 through a gear-box 49, Geneva mechanism 59, gear 73 and teeth 74 on the carrier, a cam 75 also causing a stop 78 to engage the teeth during each dwell to prevent movement of the carrier. Each compartment comprises a horizontal bush 36, Figs. 2 and 7, having a vertical bore to receive a thrust head 33 having a groove 34, and a horizontal bore 38, with a flared end 40 and a V-shaped groove 39, to receive the detonator. A plunger 30 provided with a rubber pad 35 is urged upward by a spring 32 and engages the head 33, so that when the head 33 is depressed, the detonator can be loaded, aligned or ejected, while when the head is released the detonator is gripped for marking between the pad 35 -and the groove 39. Spaced apart at 120 degrees on the casing are three brackets each supporting a roller on which the carrier 29 rests and a roller 19, Fig. 2, engaging the inner circumference of the carrier. One of the three brackets is in two parts, the part carrying the rollers being spring-urged outwards to hold the carrier against the rollers 19 of the remaining two brackets. Intermediate the brackets are three further brackets carrying rollers spring- urged upwards to bear some of the weight of the carrier. At the loading station, the compartments pass under an oval ball-race 45, whereby the heads 33 are depressed to admit the detonators. The alignment mechanism, Fig. 19, is operated by a rod 168 reciprocated by a cam-wheel 180 in the gear-box 49. When a detonator arrives at station A, the rod 168 moves inwardly, to the left in Fig. 19, and a cam 184 thereon acts on a beam 185 pivoted at 186 to cause a pin 187 to depress the head 133. Continued movement of rod 168 pulls in a rod 161 to close claws 149, 150 about the tail of the detonator. Inward movement of a bracket 153 carrying the claws is prevented by a step 196 on a fixed cam 170 engaging a lever 171. When, however, axial play between bracket 153 and rod 161 is taken up, lever 171 is rocked, and the bracket 153, claws 149, 150 and detonator are moved inwardly. On the return stroke, the claws are opened and moved outward, and the pin 187 raised. As the detonator passes beyond station A, a spring-loaded wiping roller 197, Fig. 2, pushes it outwardly to the correct position. The marking device 80, Figs. 2, 13 and 16, comprises a tool mounted on a spindle 86 rotated by a motor 82 through a belt and pulley 85. A cam-shaft 106 carries four cams 107-110 co-operating with rockers 130-133 to control valves admitting compressed air to bellows 138, 139 and exhausting it therefrom, the arrangement being such that through a connecting rod 136 the housing 88 carrying the tool is moved outwards into contact with the detonator and retracted during each dwell. A primary link 92 is carried on bearing discs 95, 96, Fig.. 16, provided with stubs 97, 98, 99, 100, eccentric to each other and to the discs, the stubs 98, 99 being journalled in fixed members 90, 91 and the stubs 97, 100 in the bearing bosses 101, 102 of a secondary link 103 from which the housing 88 is supported by spring ligaments 104, 105. Two character cams 111, 112 on the shaft 106 act on the roller 125 on the link 92 and on a roller on the link 103 respectively, and the result of the cam action is to cause the tool to trace out the desired letter or figure. The cams 111, 112 are changed according to the character desired to be formed. At the ejection station E, a roller 207, Fig. 2, depresses the head 33 to release the detonator. The cam-wheel 180, Fig. 19, reciprocates through a rod 208 the thrust member 206 of the ejector, Fig. 20. Member 206 acts through a hollow plunger 200 to compress a spring 202, whereupon a spring 204 moves an ejector rod 201 into engagement with the detonator to eject it into a shoot 14. If the detonator offers excessive resistance, spring 204 yields and plunger 200 moves axially, and a bell-crank lever 209 is turned by a ramp 211 on the rod 201 to operate an overload stop device 212 and stop the motor 46. According to the Provisional Specification, any detonator positioned too far outwards is automatically removed before reaching the marking station and ejected into a second shoot. Specification 738,638 is referred to.