Abstract:
A stamping tool used for cold marking comprising a container and at least one marking element. Each of the marking elements is a rotatable wheel mounted to rotate individually whereby the character stamped may be changed. The marking elements are mounted in the container in a manner such that the rotatable wheels may be manually rotated without dismantling the tool. Each wheel extends beyond the container in a lateral direction to permit manual adjustment of the wheel and downwardly below the container to facilitate marking with the wheel. A plunger is supported on the marking elements, and is adapted to be hit by a piston.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a typesetting stick for a cartridge stamping tool used for cold marking of the type comprising, in a container, a plunger adapted to be hit by the piston of the stamping device. The plunger is supported against marking elements individually held in the container which comprise means adapting them to the barrel of the stamping tool, such means particularly comprising a sealing pistol. 
     2. Description of the Pior Art 
     French Pat. No. 2,389,425 describes a stamping device characterized by the fact that it comprises a plurality of punches arranged in the form of bars guided individually in hollow passages arranged in parallel or radially in the container closed by a cover comprising a shoulder against which the heels of the punches abut. The container is provided with a cavity which extends beyond the guiding passages of the punches and in which is included a plunger whose base is adapted to hit the upper ends of the punch. 
     Such an apparatus possesses substantial strength and is readily adapted for use. However, it is difficult to change the characters displayed. In effect, it is necessary to open the container to replace one punch by another such that this type of apparatus is convenient only for stamping identical inscriptions which are to be repeated a considerable number of times. Such a device is less useful when it is used for stamping characters which change very frequently because the time wasted in changing the punches renders the operation very inconvenient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an aim of the invention to overcome the above and other disadvantages. 
     As disclosed, the invention overcomes the problem of repeatedly changing the punches to achieve different markings. This is done by using rotatable serrated wheels arranged side by side in a container. The container comprises a hollowed body closed at two sides by side plates and which is adapted to be hit by a plunger itself being hit by the piston of the stamping tool with which the typesetting stick is used. Each serrated wheel is guided by cutouts provided in the side plates of the container. The wheel extends below the sides at its bottom for marking and extends laterally beyond the sides so that the wheels may be manipulated. 
     An advantage of the device of the invention is that it is not necessary to open the container to set the device as desired such that the desired marking is obtained and it is necessary only to turn one or more serrated wheels to generate the number, group of letters or necessary signs which are desired and which results in appreciable savings of time. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be more fully understood with reference to the annexed drawings, illustrating one embodiment of the invention only, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of one side of the typesetting stick enclosed by one of its side plates; 
     FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the side of the typesetting stick of FIG. 1 with the side removed such that the plunger biased by the springs and the serrated wheels arranged side by side in their holder are shown; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom planar view of the typesetting stick; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the typesetting stick enclosed by its side plates; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view along II--II of FIG. 1 with one of the sides plates removed; 
     FIG. 6 is a detailed view on a magnified scale with a serrated wheel in its holder; and 
     FIG. 7 is a side cross sectional view of the assembly with frustoconical pins of the sides with the hollowed body. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The typesetting stick comprises a container constituted by a hollowed body 1, as is shown clearly in FIG. 2, and two side plates 2 and 3 which may be seen with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 1 illustrates the typesetting stick as seen from the front of the side plate 2 attached to the hollowed body 1. 
     When the side plates 2 and 3 are attached to the hollow body 1, a space is formed between the side plates and the plunger housing 4 (FIGS. 2 and 5) in which a a generally rectangular plunger 5 having an upper surface with a plurality of facets is displaced. The plunger is hit by the piston 6 of the stamping tool and the movement of the plunger is limited by the stops formed by the two shoulders 7 of the hollow body 1. 
     As may be seen with reference to FIG. 2, an empty space 11 is present beneath the plunger housing 4 of the plunger 5. The empty space 11 results from the attachment of the side plates 2 and 3 to the hollow body 1 and rotatable serrated wheels 12 which are hit by the plunger 5 are positioned side by side therein. The plunger 5 is maintained such that it is supported against the concave faces of the serrated wheels by two springs 8. These springs are each guided by a coaxial shaft 9 whose head is supported against the bottom of the housing 4 and whose body is positioned in a blind hole 10 hollowed out in the upper portion of the plunger 5. 
     As seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the hollowed body 1 ends in a tail portion 13 on which an adapter 14 is screwed for connecting the hollowed body to the barrel of the stamping pistol. Two cavities 15 are hollowed out in the tall portion 13 (one on each side) so as to place the upper portion of the plunger cavity in contact with the atmosphere and to allow for the evacuation of gas. 
     Side plates 2 and 3 (front view of FIG. 1) have a generally rectangular shape. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the base of each of side plates 2 and 3 is thicker so as to allow for the machining of rectangular cutouts 16 hollowed out vertically and between the lateral faces from which the serrated wheels are individually guided but are free to be rotated. 
     Each rotatable serrated wheel 12 is of a generally circular shape and machined to provide a concentric axle or shoulder 17 adapted to act as a shoulder or stop for the serrated wheel against the solid portions of the side plates 2 and 3 provided between the cutouts 16. 
     The serrated wheels are arranged side by side, with their respective shoulders or axles in contact (see FIGS. 2 and 3) with the adjacent serrated wheel. The wheels rest vertically on the arcs 18 extending from the cutouts 16 at the outer surface of the side plates to the bottom edge of the internal surface of the side plates while the upper surface of the arcs 19 act as stops when the wheel is retracted. These arcs have a radius substantially equal to that of the serrated wheels while allowing for rotation of the wheels therein. The marking elements or serrated wheels are mounted in the container without an axle common to the marking elements. 
     The space provided between the internal surfaces of the side plates 2 and 3 is equal to the diameter of the shoulders or axles 17 of the serrated wheels such that, when the side plates are attached to the body 1, the serrated wheels can move in only two directions, i.e., they can rotate around their own axis, and they can reciprocate vertically when the plunger hits them. 
     Each serrated wheel 12 comprises facets on its rim as may be seen in FIG. 6. Facets 20, which are shown as being concave, are percussion facets adapted to receive the percussion of the plunger 5 which itself is of a generally convex shape having a curvature corresponding to that of the percussion facets. The facets 20 are engraved or hollowed out with numbers, letters, symbols or the like which appear raised on the marking facets 21 adapted for marking. The raised indicia are shown by solid lines on facets 21, and the engraved indicia by dotted lines on facets 20. 
     Side plates 2 and 3 are rabbet fitted in a joint 22 (FIGS. 4 and 5) with the hollowed body 1 and are each attached to the base of the container by a sets of two frustoconical pins shown in FIG. 7, held by a screw having a hollowed or slitted head such as an Allen head screw, which may, for example, go through the first pin 24, a tightening space 25, which is threaded into the second pin 26 and, at the upper portion of the container by two screws 27, whose head holds the upper edge of each side plate (FIGS. 1-5). 
     In the embodiment which has just been described, marking is performed on planar surfaces. In other embodiments of the invention the typesetting stick can be adapted so as to stamp curved surfaces. To achieve this, the serrated wheels are, in one embodiment, arranged in a fashion so as to converge downwardly to mark a convex surface. In another embodiment, they diverge downwardly so as to mark a concave surface. 
     In the first case, the marking facets of the plunger and of the container have a concave form, while in the second case the marking facets of the plunger and of the container have a convex form. 
     In order to mark a surface by means of the typesetting stick of the invention, one selects the characters, numbers or the like which are desired and one selects, within the series of serrated wheels available, those which correspond to the desired characters. The container is opened by partially unscrewing the screw 27 in a manner so as to pivot the heads of the screws such that they permit the upper edge of the sides 2 and 3 to escape and then the screws 23 are lifted so as to remove one of the side plates 2 or 3. 
     The serrated wheels are arranged side by side by engaging them in the cutouts 16 of the remaining side. The removed side is then replaced and screwed on. 
     Each serrated wheel can be rotated with a finger until the number or character desired appears at the reference level 28 (FIG. 1) which is reproduced by the characters in relief in zone 29 which will be in contact with the surface to be marked and on which the typesetting stick will be placed. By placing the stick on the surface to be stamped the serrated wheels 12 are driven back into contact with the plunger 5 which is itself pushed back in the housing 4 so that it touches the springs 8. 
     The explosion of the cartridge of the stamping tool projects its piston 6 against the plunger 5 which transmits the shock to the percussion facets 20 of the serrated wheels 12 against which it is supported. Marking occurs and the recoil of the serrated wheels and of the plunger is cushioned by the springs 8. Gases are vented through orifices 15. The force imposed upon the serrated wheels 12 forces each of the wheels downwardly, i.e., outwardly from the lower surface of side plates 2 and 3, so that each of the wheels can independently move outwardly from the side plates and into contact with a portion of a surface being marked or stamped. Accordingly, each of the wheels which moves independently will independently or individually mark or stamp the surface. 
     The typesetting stick which has been described above may additionally comprise an appropriate adapter 14 attached to the tail portion of the stamping tool, and may be screwed on and/or wedged on or attached by means of notches. 
     Although the invention has been described with respect to particular materials, means and the like, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particulars disclosed and extends to cover all embodiments included within the scope of the claims.