Patent GB-1037561-A (GB)
Title: Marking apparatus
IPC: B41F17/26
Filed: 1963-01-28
Abstract: 1,037,561. Printing apparatus. ADOLPH GOTTSCHO Inc Jan. 28, 1963 [Feb. 20, 1962], No. 3368/63. Heading B6C. An apparatus for marking a vertical surface of a box conveyed horizontally past the apparatus comprises a base member 92, Fig. 1 (plan view), adapted to be disposed alongside the travel path of the box, a die wheel assembly 24 mounted on a fixed axle 22 having a threaded top end 56 upstanding on the member 12, for rotation about a vertical axis and carrying type 50, Fig. 7 (not shown), at its periphery for rolling and marking contact with successively conveyed articles, a chain 64, sprocket 60, and slip-clutch arrangement 62, Fig. 7 (not shown), for rotating the assembly 24, article actuated control means in the form of a spring-loaded latch arrangement 196, Fig. 8 (not shown), engageable with the assembly and electrically controlled by a box-operated detector disposed in the path of the moving box for permitting rotation of the assembly 24 through a single complete revolution and an inking unit 104 removably mounted on the member 12 and operable continuously by the chain 64 only upon movement of the chain. The inking unit, which has a guard plate 185 adjacent the box conveyer, comprises vertical coacting rollers 130, 132, Fig. 5 (not shown), mounted on a reservoir 108 and a pump arrangement 148 by which ink is drawn from the reservoir and sprayed over the top portion of the roller 130 from whence it gravitates towards the reservoir. The pump is actuated by a cam mounted on the drive-shaft 116 of the unit. A pin-and-slot arrangement is provided between the drive-shaft and a sprocket mounted on the upper surface of the member 12 and rotated by the chain 64 so that the drive to the inking unit may be readily applied. The die wheel assembly 24, which also incorporates a slippable clutch assembly 45, 46 for engagement with the box, may be removed from the apparatus by removing a knurled nut 54 from the top of the axle 22. The apparatus carries a guard cover 244, Fig. 2 (not shown), and the drive to the chain 64 derives from an external source through an arrangement comprising a chain 84 and bevel gearing 78, 76. Since the die wheel assembly is driven by the slip-clutch arrangement 62 and the slippable clutch assembly 45, 46 in frictional engagement with the box during marking of the latter, the peripheral speed of movement of the type 50 is exactly equivalent to the linear speed of the box and thus blurring of the resulting print is avoided. The latch arrangement 196 ensures that the location of the impression applied to each box will be uniform without regard to the speed of the conveyer or the spacing of the boxes thereon. If the length of the conveyed box in the direction of movement exceeds the circumference of the assembly 24, once the print has been effected by the type 50 and the assembly has completed one revolution, the assembly is held by the latch arrangement 196 whilst the bearer rim 46 of the clutch assembly 45, 46 continues to rotate in contact with the box. If the box length is shorter than the assembly circumference the sprocket 60 is effective through the clutch arrangement 62 to continue the rotation of the assembly 24 until the single revolution thereof is completed.