US2437224A - Decorating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Filed May 27, 1943 4 She'ets-Sheet l INVENT OR.

WI TNEJJES- March 2, 1948. w, EMERSON 2,437,224

DECORATING APPARATUS I Filed May 27, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WITNESSES.

March 2, 1948. w EMERSON DECORATING APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. m H. dam mm m p a 7- TOPNE rs.

WITNESSES.

MarchZ,v 1948. w. H. EMERSON DECORATING APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR W ,KQ J

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Patented Mar. 2, 1948 DECORATING APPARATUS Walter H. Emerson, East Liverpool, Ohio; Elizabeth King Emerson, execntrix of said Walter H. Emerson, deceased, asslgnor to The Homer Laughlin China Company, Newell, W. Va., a

corporation of Delaware Application May 27, 1943, Serial No. 188,651

16 Claims. 1

the stamp and then presses it against the ware.

This operation is repeated ashe rotates the ware until enough segments of the design are printed to complete a circle. It will be seen that such a method is very slow and requires skilled labor to match the sections of the design, to make the design circular, and to print the design clearly without smearing it.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide potteryware decorating apparatus which stamps a complete design on a piece of ware in a single operation, which is automatic, which is rapid in operation, which accurately positions the design on the ware, and which does not require a skilled attendant.

In accordance with this invention a support is Thus, the stamp may be mounted on the end of a horizontal arm which can be reciprocated vertically and oscillated horizontally from a position above the inking member to a position above the ware. In case it is desired to stamp a design on the upper surface of the bottom of the ware as Well as on its brim, two arms projecting in opposite directions may be used with a stamp suspended from each arm. When the arms are swung to move either stamp over the inking memher, the other stamp is moved into position over the ware, and when the arms are lowered, one

stamp is inked while-the other stamps the ware. The inking member is inked automatically while the stamps are raised, and means i provided to assure both stamps engaging the inking member with the same amount ofpressure. Before it is stamped, the ware is centered on its support and is then held in central position, preferably by suction. 1 4

The preferred embodiment of the invention is 2 illustrated 'in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side view of my machine with the stamps raised; Fig. 2 is an enlarged section through part of the linkage by which the inking "member is indexed; Fig. 3 is an end view of the machine; Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of the inking member taken on the line 1V-IV of Fig. 1; Fig. .5 is an enlarged vertical section of the ware-supporting chuck taken on the line V-V of Fig. I; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the machine taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 1; Fig. '7 is a horizontal section taken on the line VII-VII of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a side view of the machine with the stamps lowered; Fig. 9 is an enlarged side view of the main cam that controls the vertical and horizontal movements of the stamps; and Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view taken on the line X-X of Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the table top I of a frame supports a vertical sleeve bearing 2 rigidly mounted thereon. Extending through this hearing and the table is a hollow shaft 3 that is splined on a post 4 rotatably mounted near its lower end in a bearing 5. This bearing projects laterally from a cross member 6 attached to a pair of spaced beams 1 and 8 extending lengthwise of the frame about midway between its top and bottom. Rigidly mounted on the upper end of the shaft is a crosshead forming a pair'of arms 9 and i0 projecting in opposite directions from the shaft.

The'outer end of'each arm is provided with a vertical opening in which a sleeve I2 is slidably mounted. Threaded on the upper portion of the sleeve is a ring I3 rotatably connected to the underlying arm by a collar M. The ring can be turned by a handle 15 to adjust the sleeve vertically in the arm. Slidably mounted in the sleeve ID are the upper ends of stamp-supporting members 23 and 24. Member 23 supports a stamp 25 for decorating the upper surface of the bottom of a dinner plate 26 or the like, while member 24 supports a stamp 21 that .will stamp a design around the brim of the same plate. Member 23 is slightly longer than the other one because the center stamp engages the plate at a lower level.

It will be seen that the stamps are cushioned by the springs 19 above them which permit the tubes II to be pushed up into the sleeves II. The stamps therefore can properly engage the ware without danger of breaking it.

I Disposed above the table at opposite sides of bearing 2 and directly below the two stamps in axial alignment therewith are inking and waresupporting members. As shown in Figs. 1, 5, and 6, the ware-supporting member comprises a horizontal chuck 30 provided with a central recess in which a flexible suction cup 3| is disposed. The top of the cup must be tightly engaged by the bottom of the plate 28 before the foot of the plate can rest on the chuck. The center of the cup and chuck have a passage 33 opening into the upper end of a vertical pipe 34 on which the chuck is rigidly mounted. The pipe extends down through table i and is supported by a coupling 38 secured to the bottom of the table and connecting the pipe with a tube 81. This tube is connected through a valve 38 to a suitable source of suction (not shown). When the valve is opened,

the air pressure between the suction cup and the plate is reduced so that the plate is drawn down tightly onto the chuck and'held there against displacement during stamping.

Just before valve 38 is opened, the plate is centered on the chuck by three vertical centering fingers 40 mounted on the ends of arms 4|. The opposite ends of the arms are pivotally mounted on the upper ends of pins 42 secured to the .top of the frame at equally spaced intervals around the chuck and at uniform distances from its axis. Rotatably mounted on each pin below arm 4| is a roller 43 that projects into a peripheral groove in a horizontal ring 44. The ring is rotatably supported by the rollers. The pivoted end of each arm has a bifurcated lateraiprojectlon 46 that straddles a pin, proiecting from the top of the ring. It will thus be seen that if the ring is turned, pins 41 will swing the arms and cause the centering fingers either to engage and center a plate mounted on the chuck or to move away from the plate, depending upon which way the ring is turned.

For turning ring 44, a pin 48 projecting from its bottom is engaged by the bifurcated end of an arm 49 rigidly mounted on the upper end of a shaft to that is iournaled in table I and in a bearing on beam 1 below. The lower end of the shaft carries a laterally projecting arm 53 (Fig. 7) that is periodically swung back and forth by an actuating member. This member includes a screw 54 to which arm 53 is pivotally connected and which is screwed into one end of a rod 55 slidably mounted in bearings 56 and 51 mounted on beam I. Mounted on the rod between these bearings is a collar 58 between which and bearing 58 a coil spring 59 is compressed for urging the rod toward the right. The movement of the rod in that direction is'limited by lock nuts 60 screwed on the end of the rod and abutting against bearing 55. The other end of the rod engages a notched cam 5| (Figs. 1 and '7) rigidly mounted on a horizontal cam shaft 62 journaled in bearings 63 supported by beams I and 8. Every time one of the cam notches reaches the adjoining end of the rod, spring 59 moves the rod toward the axis of the cam and there by turns shaft 50. If the plate is engaged by .all three centering fingers before rod 55 stops moving, the plate will not be brcken because the spring is not strong enough for that.

Shaft 62 is driven continuously from an electric motor 84 mounted in the base of the frame. The motor is connected by a belt 85 to a pulley 65 on one end of a shaft 81 which drives the cam shaft through a speed reducing unit 88, all as shown in Figs. 1, 3. and '7.

As shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 6, the inking member on the side of sleeve bearing 2 opposite to the chuck includes a circular disc or platen rigidly mounted on the upper end of a shaft ll journaled in a bearing '12 mounted on table I. The platen is periodically inked with gold, silver or other ceramic color by a roll 13 joumaled in brackets I4 mounted on sleeves 15. The latter are slidably mounted on horizontal rods 16 sunsmall openings in the bottom of the tank at the desired rate by air pressure which is supplied through a flexible hose 18 from a suitable source (not shown).

The color-carrying roll is rolled back and forth across the platen by a pair of links so pivotally connected to sleeves I5 and to the upper end of a lever 8| that moves in a longitudinal slot 82 in the table. .The lower portion of the lever is pivotally mounted in a bearing 83 supported by a cross member 84 attached to beams I and 8. The lower end of the lever is pivotally connected by a link 86 to the outer end of an arm v8I pro- Jecting from a shaft 88 journaled in pedestal bearings 89 on the bottom of the frame. This shaft is oscillated by a sprocket 9| mounted thereon andconnected by a chain 92 to a sprocket 93 mounted on a shaft 94 journaled in bearings 95 supported by the frame. Shaft 94 is oscillated by an arm 91 the outer end of which is pivotally connected by a vertical link 98 to the outer end of a lever 99. The opposite end of this lever is pivotally mounted on a horizontal shaft I00 journaled in bearings lfll connected to the side of upright members I 02 extending from the table down to beams I and 8. The central portion of lever 99 carries on one side a roller )3 that projects into a groove l|l4 in a cam disc I05 (Fig. 9) rigidly mounted on cam shaft 62. Thus, as the cam shaft rotates, the lever is raised and lowered, which oscillates sprocket 83. Shaft 84 also carries a bevel gear I01 that meshes with a bevel pinion I08 on the lower end of post 4, whereby the post is turned when shaft 94 is rotated. The relation of the gear teeth to-the pinion teeth is such that for each oscillation of the gear, the post is rotated Likewise, the ratio of sprockets 9| and 92 is such that for each oscillation of the larger sprocket, arm 81 is swung 180 to cause the inking roll to make one trip across platen 10 and back.

In order to reciprocate the stamps so that they will engage plate 26 and the inking platen, a cylindrical bearing H0 is loosely mounted on the lower end of hollow shaft 3 between a pair of collars Ill. Opposite sides of this bearing are recessed to provide parallel flat areas against which blocks I I2 are reclprocable transversely of the shaft as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. These blocks are pivotally connected by pins 3 to the forks 1 mi of the lever is pivotally mounted on down on post 4 with which the shaft can rotate in bearing IIO. when the shaft descends, axial alignment of the stamps with the ware on chuck 30 is assured by guide fingers I I1 projecting downwardly from crosshead arms and I0 and which slide into the bifurcated end of a guide member II8 projecting laterally from the top of sleeve bearing '2. Lateral movement of the stamps during stamping is thus prevented. Also, as the stamps descend, a valve tripper l'lfl projecting from the side of bearing IIO opens valve 38 in suction line 31 and holds it open until after the stamps have risen away from the ware.

Every time the stamps are moved downwardly the inking platen is rotateda few degrees by an upright lever I20 rigidly connected at its lower end to lever H4. The upper end of the lever is connected by a compressible link I 2I (Fig. 2) to a pin I22 (Fig. 4) depending from an annular clutch plate 4 I23. This plate is oscillatably mounted on a stud I24 projecting down from the center of a ratchet I26 having a hub projecting up through an opening in table I and rigidly.

fastened to the lower end of platen shaft II. Between the ratchet and the clutch plate there is a ring I I21 of friction material against which the clutch plate is tightly pressed by a coil spring I28 compressed between it and a collar I 29 held on stud I24 by a nut I30 threaded on the stud. Thus, when the clutch plate is rotated by link Hi, the friction ring I21 causes the ratchet and platen to turnwith it so that color is distributed over it'uniformly. The distance that they can be turned is limited, as shown in Fig. 6, by a stop I32 projecting from the clutch plate and engaging the end of a stop rod I33. fastened to the bottom of the table. The platen is thus brought to rest before a-stainp engages it, but if lever I20 is still in motion when the clutch plate is stopped, no harm will result because spring I34 in link I2I will absorb the excess motion.

To prevent the ratchet from being pulled back to its original position when lever I20 reverses its movement, aspring-pressed dog I35 is pivotally mounted on the bottom of the table with its free end engaging the ratchet teeth, thereby permitting the ratchet to move in only one direction. The clutch plate slides against the ratchet on the return stroke of lever I20.

As mentioned before, the center stamp is necend of the machine as viewed in Fig. .1.

essarily disposed with its stamping surface at a 7 lower level than that of the brim stamp 21. It therefore will be seen that unless something is done to prevent it, the center stamp will engage the inking platen sooner than the other one does and thus press against it with considerably greater force. This would be harmful to the stamp and would apply too much color to it so that it would smear the design on the ware. Accordingly, to keep the center stamp from engaging the platen with any more force then the brim stamp, the downward movement of the center stamp is positively limited. This preferably is done bymeans of a vertical rod I40 slidably mounted in the tubular nut 2i above the center stamp. The rod extends down through the spring I0 and has a head I at its lower end that engages the bottom of flange I8. The rod also projects above nut 2| a considerable distance and its upper end is threaded and carries lock nuts I42.

- When the crosshead is rotated and the center ,stamp is swung around into position above the inking platen, rod I40 enters a lateral notch I43 (Fig. 10) in the end of a horizontal arm I44 projecting over the crosshead from'a vertical column 3 I45 mounted on table I. As the'crosshead is lowered, the rod slides downwardly in notch I43 until nuts I42 strike the top of arm I44 as shown 4 in Fig. 8. This prevents, any iurtherdownward movement of the center stamp. so the continued downward movement of crosshead arm 9 slides the adjoining sleeve I2 down on tube I1 while spring I9 is further compressed inside. Of course, the crosshead moves down only far enough to press the brim stamp 21 against the ware. Nuts I42 are so positioned on rod I40 that the center stamp is stopped as soon. as it engages the inking platen with the desired is amount ofpressure.

In using this "machine for decorating" dinner plates, for example, an operator stands at the left He takes a plate 28 from a pile beside him and places it on chuck 30 while the stamps are raised. Just as cam I05 starts to swing lever II4 downwardly to thereby lower shaft 3 and the stamps, the cam 6| permits spring 50 to push rod 55 to the right. This operatesv to swing centering fingers 40 inwardly against the plate to center it On the chuck. Before the fingers are retracted, downwardly moving valve tripper H9 opens valve 38 so that the plate is held by suction in centered position on the chuck. Cam GI swings the centering fingers out of the way before the plate is stamped. At the same time that the plate is stamped by one stamp, the other stamp engages and is inked by the inking platen. Lever H4 is then raised by cam I05 to lift the stamps to the position shown in Fig. 1. The plate in that figure has just been decorated by center stamp 25.

It will be observed that as cam I05 in Fig. 1 continues to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction by continuously rotating shaft 62, lever II4 remains in its upper position while the cam lifts lever 99 to the position shown in Fig. 8. This swings arm 91 upwardly and thereby rotates shaft 94 which in turn, through gear I01 and pinion I08, turns post 4 to swing inked stamp 27 in a horizontal plane to a position over the plate and to swing center stamp 25 over the inki'ng platen. Shaft 94 also rotates shaft 86 to swing arm 81 from its lower position in Fig. 1 to its upper position shown in Fig. 8. This movement of the arm swings lever 8i on its pivot which thereby moves the inking roll across the platen and back while the stamps are changing places.

Cam I05 then keeps the stamps in their new positions for a short time while it swings lever II4 downwardly to lower the stamps against the ware and inking platen. The positions of the elements of themachine at this moment are shown in Fig. 8. As explained previously, rod

and ratchet prevent the ,platen from turning backward. As shaft 3 rises, the valve tripper I I9' closes suction valve 38 which thereupon admits atmospheric pressure to the underside. of the plate to release it from the chuck. Immediately thereafter, cam it! lowers lever II and thereby swings the stamps back to their original positions with the center stamp ready to stamp a new piece of ware as soon as it has been centered on and afhxed to the chuck by suction.

With decorating apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention, any personavho can place ware on the chuck and remove it therefrom can decorate the ware more perfectly and much faster than has been possible heretofore. An entire design is stamped in a single operation on automatically centered ware by an automatically inked and actuated stamp. The result is lower cost and better decoration with losses due to imperfect decorations reduced to a minimum.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and construction of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described. 1

I claim:

1. A potteryware decorating machine comprising a support for ware being decorated, a decorating stamp spaced from the support, means for centering ware on said support relative to the stamp, means for holding said ware in centered position, means for releasing said centeringmeans from the ware as soon as the ware becomes held by said holding means, and means for effecting relative movement between said support and stamp to stamp decoration on the ware.

2. A potteryware decorating machine comprising a vacuum chuck for supporting ware being decorated, a decorating stamp spaced from thechuck, automatic means for centering ware on said chuck, means for'eflecting relative movement between said 'chuck and stamp to stamp decoration on the ware, and means for releasing said centering means from the ware before it is stamped.

3. A potteryware decorating machine comprising a horizontal support for ware being decorated, a vertically reciprocable decorating stamp above the support, movable means for engaging the edge of and centering ware on said support relative to the stamp above it, resilient means for moving said centering means against the edge of the ware, means for holding the centered ware on the support, and means for moving said centering means away from the were before said stamp engages the ware.

4. A potteryware decorating machine comprising a horizontal support for were being decorated, a vertically reciprocable decorating stamp above the support, laterally movable members for engaging ware on said support and centering it thereon relative to the'stamp above it, resilient means for periodically moving said members toward said support, and means for moving said members away from the support after ware has been centered thereon but before it has been stamped.

5. A potteryware decorating machine comprising a horizontal support. for ware being decorated, a vertically reciprocable decorating stamp above the support, laterally movable members for engaging ware on said support and centering it thereon relative to the stamp above it, means for periodically moving said members toward and away from said support, means for holding the 8 were in centered position on the support and means for lowering the stamp against ware on said support after said members have been withdrawn from said ware.

6. A potteryware decorating machine comprising a vacuum chuck for supporting ware being decorated, a decorating stamp above the chuck, a vertically reciprocable support for the stamp, means for centering wareon the chuck, means for inking the stamp, and means actuated by said support as it is lowered for reducing the air pressure between the chuck and centered ware resting thereon.

7. A potteryware decorating machine comprising a vacuumchuck for supporting ware being decorated, a decorating stamp spaced from the chuck, means for centering ware on the chuck, means for reducing the air pressure between the chuck and centered ware to hold the ware in fixed position, and means for efiecting relative movement of said support and stamp toward each other to stamp decoration on the ware, said centering means moving away from the ware before it is stamped.

I 8. A potteryware decorating machine comprising a table, a support on said table for ware being decorated, an inking member on said table at one side of the support, a rotatable and vertibeneath the table for periodically lowering the shaft to alternately move each stamp down against the inking member and then against the ware to stamp it.

9. A potteryware decorating machine comprising a support for ware being decorated, an inking member at one side of the support, a pair of laterally spaced decorating stamps above said support and inking member, one of the stamps being smaller and lower than the other to stamp the bottom of the ware, means for periodically reversing the positions of the stamps over said support and inking member, means for lowering the stamps in both positions to ink them and to stamp the ware, and means for limiting the downward movement of said smaller stamp from its position above the inking member, whereby it engages the inking memberwith only the desired pressure.

10. A potteryware decorating machine comprising a support for ware being decorated, an inking member at one side of the support, a pair of laterally spaced decorating stamps above said support and inking member, a common support for the stamps, one of the stamps being smaller and normally disposed farther below said common support than the other, means vertically movable in t e support and carrying the smaller stamp. mea s for periodically rotating the support means for lowering the support in both of its positions to ink the stamps and stamp the ware, and means for limiting the downward movement of said stamp-carrying means when it is above the inking member, whereby the smaller stamp engages the inking member relatively lightly.

11. A potteryware decorating machine comprising a support, a rotatable vertical post extending through said support, a hollow shaft splined on the post and ioumaled in said support, a pair of arms projecting in opposite directions from the top of the shaft, a decorating stamp suspended from each arm, a ware-receiving chuck below one of the stamps, an inking member below the other stamp, cam activated means below said support for periodically ro tating the post to reverse the positions of the stamps, and cam actuated means below said support for periodically lowering said shaft to simultaneously move one stamp down against the. inking member and the other stamp against the ware.

12. A potteryware decorating machine comprising a rotatable vertical post, a hollow shait slidably mounted on the post, a pair of arms pro- Jecting in opposite directions from the top of the shaft, downwardly biased means connected to the outer end of each arm, a decorating stamp connected to the lower end of each of said means, one of said stamps being smaller and disposed lower than the other, a ware-receiving chuck below one of the stamps, an inking member below the other stamp, means for periodically lowering said shaft to simultaneously move one stamp down against the inking member and the other against the ware, and means for limitin downward movement of the downwardly biased means connected to said smaller stamp when above the inking member, whereby to limit the pressure with which that stamp engages the inking member.

13. A potteryware decorating machine comprising a support for were being decorated, an inking member at one side the support, a rotatable and vertically movable vertical shaft, an arm projecting from the shaft in a plane above the support and inking member, a pair of vertically disposed telescoping members mounted in said arm, a spring biasing said telescoping members apart, means for adjusting the telescoping members vertically in said arm, a decorating stamp carried by the lower telescoping member, means for turning the shaft to swing the stamp from a position above the inking member to a position above said support, and means for periodically lowering the shaft to move the stamp down against said inking member and then down against the were to stamp decoration on it.

14. A potteryware decorating machine comprising a vacuum chuck ior supporting ware being decorated, a decorating stamp above the chuck, a vertically reciprocable support for the stamp. means for engaging the edge of ware i'or centering it on the chuck, means for inking the stamp, and means for reducing the air pressure between.the chuck and centered ware mting thereon, said centering means being released from the edge of the ware before it is stamped.

15. A potteryware decorating machine comprieingaeuppcrtiorwarebeingdecoraman inking member at one side of the support, a pair oi laterally spaced decorating stamps above said support and inking member, one of the stamps being smaller and normally on a different level than the other, means for periodically reversing the positions of the stamps over said support and inking member, means for lowering the stamps in both positions to ink them and to stamp the ware, and means for limiting the downward movement of the normally lower stamp from its position above the inking member, whereby it engages the inking member with only the desired pressure.

16. A potteryware decorating machine comprising a supportfor ware being decorated, anv inking member at one side of the support, a pair of laterally spaced decorating stamps above said support and inking member, one of the stamps being smaller and normally on a different level than the other, means for periodically reversing the positions of the stamps over said support and inking member, means for lowering the stamps in both positions to ink them and to stamp the ware, an arresting member adjacent the inking member, and means connected to said normally lower stamp for periodically engaging said arresting member to limit the downward movement of said lower stamp from its position above the inking member, whereby it engages the inking member with substantially the same pressure as the other stamp.

WALTERH. EMERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The iollowing references are of record in the tile of this patent:

Number Name Date 15,764 Hackett Sept. 28, 1856 65,127 Shearman May 28, 1887 524,610 Richards Aug, 14, 1894 $84,669 Buttler June 15, 1897 641,440 Deidrlck Jan. 16, 1900 884,031 Mounttord Apr. 7, 1908 914,234 Brown Mar. 2, 1909 1,082,579 Aylsworth May 27, 1913 1,410,212 Mix Mar. 21, 1922 1,537,191 Reynolds Mar. 21,1925 1,599,918 O'Hara Sept, 14, 1926 1,620,447 Donovan Mar. 8, 1927 2,062,425 Peters Dec. 1, 1936 2,077,790 Hakogi Apr. 20, 1987 2,102,808 Piperoux Dec. 21, 1987 2,105,400 Booth Jan. 11,1938 2,835,213 Lawrence NOV. 23, 1948 2,885,840 Eebenstreit Nov. 80, 1948

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