US3046884A - Marking device - Google Patents

Description

July 31, 1962 J. w. PEARSON 3,046,884

MARKING DEVICE Filed May 11, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2" -3 Fly.

IN VEN TOR.

/i i 3 JACK w. PEARSON Fig. 2

ATTORNEYS J. W. PEARSON MARKING DEVICE July 31, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 11, 1960 INVENTOR.

JACK W. PEA RS ON ATTORNEYS ilhit rates smash Patented J y 31, 1962 3346,88 1 MARKING DEVICE Jack W. Pearson, 141 Miami Ave, Elyria, Ohio Filed May 11, 1960, Ser. No. 28,271 9 Claims. (Cl. 101329) My invention relates to marking devices and particularly to marking devices used for making marks at predetermined intervals along a course.

An object of my invention is the provision of an improved device for making marks along a board or the like such as a plate upon which uprights are to be secured at spaced intervals in a building structure.

Another object is the provision for marking the centers for uprights upon a building plate, such as a board at the base of a wall in a building structure.

Another object is the provision for marking locations for the positioning of members to be erected at intervals along a base member of a building structure.

Another object is the provision of a device for assuring accurate and speedy marking of locations along a longitudinal member at predetermined intervals.

Another object is the provision for facile means for rapid and accurate marking of structural elements at spaced intervals therealong such as the marking of centers for uprights along the horizontal members forming the wall of a building structure.

Another object is the provision of an improved marking device operating in a novel manner to obtain results not heretofore readily obtainable;

A particular use of this device is for marking the locations at which two-by-four uprights, for example, are to be located along the length of a board forming a base plate and also a horizontal board forming a top plate of a wall between which the uprights are to be secured. Ordinarily, a carpenter must laboriously measure oif the locations at which the uprights are to be positioned. As he starts from one end of the board upon which the locations are to be marked, there is a tendency to accumulate errors or inaccuracies so that by the time the opposite end of the board is reached, there may be considerable accumulated error. It is a usual practice in this country, for example, to position the two-by-four uprights in a wall structure at 16-inch centers, that is, spaced 16 inches apart. This requires the accurate marking of the locations along upper and lower horizontal members, at which locations the upright members are to be secured. In some situations, markings are to be made at otherintervals, such as at 24-inch intervals. For example, the trusses and beams of a roof structure are sometimes placed at 24-inch intervals along horizontal supporting members. This, of course, requires accurate marking of the locations at which such trusses or beams are to be located. In the construction of many buildings, there is the use of sheets of material, such as sheets of plywood, which have a uniform width accepted in the trade. As the edge portions of these sheets are to be mailed or secured to uprights, it is important that the uprights be accurately spaced so that there is correct correspondence between the locations of the uprights and the edges of the sheet material secured thereto.

My invention has as an object the provision of a satisfactory and efficient tool useful for carrying out the foregoing function of marking locations.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a marking device embodying my invention;

FIGURE-2 is a left-hand end View of the device looking in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a right-hand end view looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view looking upward from below the device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device looking in the direction of the arrows '5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the device looking in the direction of the arrows 66 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 7--7 of FIGURE 1.

The marking of lines and other indicia on a board or other structural element may 'be readily accomplished by any fluid "or flowable material of various viscosities so long as the material is transferable and is capable of being readily seen when applied to a surface of another color, as for example, to the raw or unfinished color of a wooden board. For convenience this material for marking will be referred to as ink and it will be understood that this term includes such material as die, paint, stain and various colored liquids and pastes capable'of being" trueferred for application to a surface to be marked.

My device, as illustrated, includes a frame member denoted generally by the reference character 11. This frame member is in the form of an inverted U, forming a longitudinal channel. One side portion of the frame 11 is denoted by the reference character 12 and the opposite side portion is denoted by the reference character 13. The two side portions 12 and 13 are joined along their upper edges by a back portion 14.

Although in this description there is reference to upper and lower parts of the device, it will be understood that these terms are merely used for convenience and as used refer to the disposition of the device as illustrated in FIGURE 1. Of course, the device may be used upsidedown to mark on the under surface of a structural element, such as a board or the like. However, for convenience, in this description and in the claims, directions and disposition of the parts will be as they appear in FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

Carried by the upper end of the back portion 14 and extending upwardly therefrom and then rearwardly along the length of the body portion of the frame member 11 is a handle member 15. Preferably the body portion, made up of side portions 12 and 13, back portion 14, and handle portion 15, is one integral casting, although it may be fabricated in other ways also. Journaled to the side portions 12 and 13 inthe channel therebetween is a marking roller 16, this roller being positioned adjacent the forward end of the frame member, that is, the end having the greatest height. This marking roller 16 has a knurled rim 16-a of annular shape on opposite ends thereof. The spaced rims 16a protrude radially outward a short distance beyond the circumferential surface of the roller 16 intermediate the rims 16-a. The knurled rims 1*6a provide frictional engagement of the roller 16 with a board orthe like.

As better seen in FIGURE 6, the marking roller 16 has an inner hub 16-b extending therethrough, this hub being welded or otherwise secured to a cylindrical sleeve 18 which extends from the opposite axial ends of the roller 16. A shaft 17 extends through aligned openings in the side portions 12 and 13 of the frame member and through the cylindrical sleeve 18 in such a manner that the roller 16 is free to rotate on the axis of the shaft 17. A set screw 19 may secure the sleeve 18 to the shaft 17. The shaft 17 is free to rotate within the aligned openings in the side portions 12 and 13.

Mounted to the outer cylindrical surface of the roller 16 and intermediate the opposed rims 16a is a first inktransfer device 20. This device 20 has a flat base portion ZtP-a which is secured by cement, adhesive or other suitslightly flex when the protruding edge portion 2il-b engages a surface to :be; marked. The material of the device is such as to readily receive ink on the outer. surface of the edge portion 20-b and to transfer the ink to a 7 surface engaged, such as the surface of a wooden board.

In the illustrated marking device, the marking roller 16 is dimensioned so as to have a circumference of 16 inches. Thus, the edge portion 204) of the ink-transfer device 21 recurrently is located in a downward position,

A such as in the position illustrated in the drawings, once every revolution and which would be at an interval of 16 inches along aboard or the like upon which the marking roller 16 is rolled. .Thus, the ink-transfer device 20 would mark with ink a line corresponding to the outer surface of the edge portion 20-b every 16 inches along a structuralelement, such as a woodenboard, as the marking roller is rolled longitudinally of such a structural element. As seen in FIGURE 1, digits marked around the side of the marking roller 16 indicates each one-inch interval around the circumference of the roller; A complete revolution of the marking roller 16 as it rolls along a flat surface computes and marks the longitudinal distance of 16 inches, that being the circumference of the marking roller.

'Diametrically opposite the iirst'ink rran'sfer device 29 there may be mounted a second ink-trans fer device 21.

Assuming the ink-transfer device 20 is located in zero position in the roller 16, then ink-transfer device 21 is located 7 at the 8-inch location on the circumference of the roller.

In some uses of the marking device, it may be desired to mark 24-inch'i'ntervals rather than, or inaddition to, the 16 inch intervals. In such a case, the second inktransfer device 21 is applied to the roller 16 and secured thereto by cement, adhesive or other suitable means. :The ink-transfer device 21 has a base portion 21-a which is secured to the outer circumferenceof the roller 16 between the rims 16-a and has extending radially outwardly I therefrom the edge portion 21-b. 'I he ink-transfer device 21 1s diiferent from the ink transfer device 20 in that the edge portion 21b on the outermost surface thereof is relatively wide and relatively short. Thus, a mark inked by the outer surface of the edge portion 21-bon a board or the like may be readily distinguished in appearance by the mark left by the relatively narrow and long outer surface of the edge portion 20b of the ink-transfer device 20. In those cases where only one marking for each revolution of the roller 16 is desired, the ink-transfer de vice 21may1be eliminated or removed.

Iournaled to the opposite side portions 12 and 13 and adjacent the rearward end of the frame member, that is, {the right-hand end shown in FIGURES 1 and 5, is a slip porting roller 23. This supporting roller 23 may bem-ade of wood, metal, or any other suitable material. The body of the roller 23 is mounted on a cylindrical sleeve 25 which, in turn, is mounted on a shaft 24 extending axially through the roller 23. A set screw 26 secures the sleeve 25 to the shaft 24. The roller 23 is free to rotate in the aligned openings in the side portions Hand 13. The axis :of the roller 23 is parallel to the axis of the roller 16. V

As seen in the drawings, the iowermost portions of the rollers 16 and 23 are exposed below the bottom edge of the side portions 12 and 1350 as to be free to engage the top surface of a structural element, such as a board, along which the marking device is rolled. I

p Also journaled on the side portions 12 and 13 at a loca- I tion intermediate the rollers 16 and 23, is an ink-applying roller 28 in such position that the axis of the roller 28 is parallel to the axes of the rollers 16 of felt padding or other suitable material used for absorbing and holding ink and capable of applying the absorbed ink to any object engaging the peripheral surface of the pad portion 28-b. The core portion 28-11 is mounted on a metal cylindrical sleeve 29 which is mounted 'upon a.

shaft 30. A set screw 31 secures the sleeve 29m the shaft 30. The ends of the shaft 30 extend through aligned openings in the side portions 12 and 13 and the mounting is such that the roller 28 is free to rotate relative to the side portions 12 and 13 to which it is journaled.

Upon rotation of the roller 16, the outer edge of the inktransfer device 20 and the outer edge of the ink-transfer device 21 move by and engage with the ink-applying roller 28 with sufiicient pressure that ink from the ink-applying roller 28' is evenly distributed to the outer edge of the respective ink-transfer devices 2! and 21. When only the ink-transfer device 20 is mounted on the roller 16, then only that ink-transfer device has ink applied thereto by the ink-applying roller 28; .When both devices 210 and 21 are mounted on the roller 16, then :both'h-ave ink applied thereto as they move by and engage the inkapplying roller 28. By having the ink-applying roller 28 rotatively mounted, there is less resistance to rotation of the roller 16 by reason of the interengagement of the inktransfer devices 20 and 21 with the outer cylindrical sur-,

face of the ink-applying roller 28. The ink-applying roll- 'e'rv 28 absorbs and holds a considerable amount of ink, but

upon its ink supply being exhausted, ink may be readily applied to the roller 28 so that it is again ready to act as a reservoir of to apply the ink as required to the inktransfer devices carried by the roller 16.

I In some instances, it may be desirable to prevent the A roller 16 from rotating too freely and at too rapid a rate of rotation. T 0 provide some restraint on the rotation of the roller 16 and at the same time permit it to readily rotate as the marking device is moved along a board or the like in engagement therewith, there is provided a spring biased detent 32; This detent 32 is carried by a cap or cylindrical housing 34 secured to the side portion 12. A coil spring 33 within the cap 34 urges the detent 32 inwardly against the side of the roller 16. A plurality of dwells or small recesses 16c are provided in the side of the roller 16 adjacent the detent 32 in such a manner that the detent 32 may readily slide in and out of the dwells 1-6-0 as the roller 16 rotates. A slight clicking sound is effected as the detent 32 moves in and out of a dwell 16-0, thus giving an audible signal. As the illustrated roller 16 has a circumference of 16 inches and there is a marking indicated for each one-inch interval around the circumference, there are 16 dwells 16-0, each dwell indicating the occurrence of a one-inch interval.

Thus, the operator may both see and hear indicia and V signals indicating the rotative position of the roller 16 as it rotates relative to the frame member and rolls along a surface to be marked.

As one of the usual uses of this marking device is to make marks at intervals along a board, such as the horizontal plate upon which uprights are to be mounted, it is desirable to provide guiding meansto aid in assuring accurate longitudinal movement of the devicealong the length of the board. By having the device move accurately along the length of the board, it is assured that the ink marks applied to the board will be at right angles to the longitudinal 'axis of the board. Also by having a guiding means, the operator may more easily move the marking device along the board without the device moving sidewards on the board upon which the marking is to be applied. In such cases, the b'oardto be marked has one or both opposite sides exposed, these opposite sides being at right angles to the surface to be marked. For example, on a horizontally disposed board to be marked, it may be desired to mark the top surface and to use one and23. meme. 7 applying roller 28 has a core portion 28-a around which; is formed an absorbent pad portion 28-b, which maybe or both vertically disposed sides of the board to guide the movement of the marking device. For this purpose, there are provided guide plates 35 and 36 arranged parallel to and along the sides of the opposite side portions 12 and 13. A guide plate 35 is carried by and disposed adjacent side portion 13. Guide plate 36 is carried by and is disposed adjacent side portion 12. Guide plate 35 has a pair of Jshaped slots 35a, each slot being adjacent the opposite ends of the plate 35. Also guide plate 36 has a pair of J-shaped slots 36-a, each of which is located adjacent an end of the guide plate 36. As seen in the drawings, the J-shaped slots 35-12 and 36-a and the guide plates 35 and 36 are disposed with the long arm of each J-shaped slot in a vertical position and with the short arm of each J-shaped slotextending laterally from the bottom of the long arm and bent or hooked slightly upwardly of the outer end of the short arm of each slot.

The side portion 13 has extending outwardly therefrom a pair of spaced pins 37. Each pin 37 extends through a respective slot 35-a. The side portion 12 has extending outwardly therefrom a pair of spaced pins 38. Each pin 38 extends through a respective slot Se-a. The outer ends of the pins 37 and 38 are enlarged to be broader than the width of the slots 35-a and 36-a and thus to retain the plates 35 and '36 adjacent and parallel to the respective side portions 13 and 12. By reason ofthe interfit of the protruding pins and the respective J-shaped slots, the guide plates 35 and 36 may be carried in an upper position or in a lower position. For example, :as seen in FIGURE 1, the guide plate 36 is shown in full lines in a raised position so that its lower edge substantially coincides with the lower edge of the side portion 12. The guide plate 36 as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 1 is in its lowermost position where it is dis-. posed to guidingly engage the side of a board or the like along which the marking tool is moved. To shift the guide plate 36 between its upper and lower positions, the operator shifts the plate 36 so that the pins 38 engage either the top of the long arm of the J-shaped slots 36-a or the top of the short arm of the J-shaped slots 36-a;

In the position shown in full lines in FIGURE 1, the pins 38 engage the top surface of the short arms of the respective J-shaped slots 36-a and thus support the guide plate 36 in raised position. By moving the guide plate 36 so that the pins 38 are in alignment with the long vertical arms of the J-shaped slots 36-a, then the guide plate 36 moves downwardly and the pins 38 are located at the top of the long vertical arms of the respective slots 36-a. The guide plate 35 on the other side of the tool is similarly raised and lowered, as desired. Either guide plate 35 or 36 may be lowered or both guide plates 35 and 35 may be raised, or one or the other may be lowered while the other is held in raised position. Thus, guiding means are provided on alternative and both sides of the marking tool so that either or both opposite edges of a board or the like may be engaged by a guide plate and thus provide guidance for movement of the marking device along a board or the like.

In the use of the marking device, it is sometimes desirable to predetermine the starting position of the marking device relative to a reference point at the end of a board r the like, such 'as relative to a corner post extending up from a horizontal board upon which marks are to be applied. To provide for such relative positioning, an extension member 39 is provided which is in the form of a steel rule or longitudinal measure carrying distance indicia thereon. This extension member 39 is slidably carried by a strap member 40 welded or otherwise secured to the inner surface of the side portion 12 and so disposed that the extension member 39 may be slidably moved in the strap 46 to either extend rearwardly as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 1 from the rear end :of the frame member 11, or to be moved forwardly so as to be entirely within the channel formed by the frame member 11, that is, so that the rearward end of the extension member 39 does not protrude rearwardly beyond the rear end of the frame member. This slidable extension member or rule 39 has a forward bent over end 39-a and a rearward bent over end 39-h, these ends 39-a and 39-b retaining the extension member 39 within the strap member 40 but at the same time permitting the sliding of the extension member 39 relative to the strap member 49.

The device is adapted to be moved along any surface for applying marks at intervals therealong. However, as suggested, one of its purposes is to mark a horizontally disposed board so as to apply marks on the upper horizontal surface and which board has vertically disposed sides, one or more of which is exposed for engaging a guide plate carried by the marking device. As seen in FIG- URE 2, such a board is indicated in broken lines and denoted by the reference character 4-1. FIGURE 2 being an end view of the device, the rectangle in dotted lines indicated by the reference character 41 represents an end view or a cross-sectional view of a board rather than a side view. The representation of a board or the like has not been shown in connection with the other views of the drawing in order to maintain clarity in the showing of the parts of the marking device.

The usefulness and practical desirability of the marking device here illustrated will be appreciated by those having occasion to mark structural elements and to otherwise do marking at intervals along a surface and who are acquainted with the problems and difficulties encountered without the benefit of this improved tool. 7

The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A marking device for making marks at predetermined intervals along a board or the like, comprising in combination, a frame member having substantially parallel and spaced side portions defining a longitudinally disposed open space, said side portions being joined along their upper edges by a top portion, a handle member carried by sm'd frame member and extending above said top portion, a marking roller journaled to said side portions adjacent the forward end of the frame member to roll in said open space, a supporting roller journaled to said side portions adjacent the rearward end of the frame member to roll in said open space, an ink-applying roller journaled on said side portions intermediate the said marking roller and said supporting roller to roll in said open space, the axes of said marking roller, supporting roller and ink-applying roller being parallel to each other and disposed transversely of said longitudinally disposed open space, an ink-transfer device carried by said marking roller on the circumferential periphery thereof at a reference location on its circumference, said inkapplying roller being in juxtaposition to said marking roller to cause the ink-applying roller to engage, and recurrently apply ink to, said ink-transfer device upon each rotation of said marking roller, said side portions extending longitudinally of the device between said marking roller and said supporting roller and protruding downwardly to below said ink-applying roller to guard said inloapplying roller against contact at the sides of the device intermediate of the said marking roller and said supporting roller, guide means carried by a side portion of the frame member to extend adjacent both the marking roller and the supporting roller from the bottom edge of said side portion beyond a reference plane tangent to the circumferences of both the marking roller and supporting roller to -guidingly engage, at spaced locations adjacent both the marking aoaaesa roller and the supporting roller, the side of a board or the like along which the marking device is moved whereby the angular disposition of the marking device relative to the board or the like may be maintained.

2. A marl" g device for mahn-g marks at'predetermined intervals along a board or the like, comprising in combination a frame member having an open bottom end, a marking roller and a supporting roller journaled on said frame member on parallel axes disposed transversely of said frame member to expose said rollers through said open bottom end, said rollers being "adapted to rollingiy engage the top of a board or the like along which the marking device is moved on a reference plane tangent to the circumferences of both said rollers, an ink-transfer device mounted on said marking roller to extend radially outward from the circumference of marking roller at a reference location on said circumference to revolve therewith and to transfer ink therefrom to the surface of a board or the like upon the coincidence of said reference location with said reference plane'as the marking roller rolls along said board or the like, an ink-supply device carried by said frame member intermediate of said marking roller and said supporting roller and positioned in V juxtaposition to the said marking roller to recurrently engage and supply ink to said ink-transfer device as said ink-transfer device revolves on the circumference of said marking roller, said frame member including spaced side portions extending downwardly and extending between said marking roller and said supporting roller to below said ink-supply device to guard said ink-supply device along the sides of the marking device intermediate of the w marking roller and supporting roller, and guide means carried by said frame member along a said side portion and disposed along said open bottom end thereof to extend below saidreference plane and engage a side of a said board or the like for guiding the device as it is moved along a'said board or the like, said guide means having spaced guide bearing portions at a location along the said frame side portion adjacent the marking roller and at a location along the said frame side portion adjacent the supporting roller to provide guidance for the frame member at said locations. i 3. A marking device comprising a marking roller having an ink-transfer portion at a reference location on its circumferential periphery for applying ink to a surface as the marking roller rolls along said surface to bring said ink-transfer portion into engagement 'with said surface upon each revolution of the marking roller, a rotatable supporting member adapted to rollingly engage said surface at a distance from the axis of said marking roller, a frame member for carrying said marking roller and said supporting member, an ink-applying device carried by said frame member for recurrently engaging said inktransfer portion of the marking roller upon each revolution thereof to apply ink thereto, said frame member extending downwardly beyond said ink-applying'device and extending between the marking roller and supporting roller to embrace said ink-applying device and provide protection thereto, and guide means carried by said frame member and extending along a line spaced from and parallel to a common line through an end of said marking roller and an end of said supporting roller for guiding longitudinal movement of the marking device along a path normal to the axis of said marking roller, said guide means extending forwardly to a location adjacent said marking roller and rearWardly-to' a location adjacent said rotatable supporting member to provide long-bearing guidance for the frame member at said locations.

4. A marking device comprising, a frame member having a body portion of inverted U-shape in cross-section and of gradually decreasing height from the forward end thereof to the rearward end, said frame member having a handle portion disposed above said body portion and extended longitudinally thereof, a marking roller journaled is moved, said rims having friction means on the-outer.

thereof and disposed to rotate on an axis parallel tothe axis of said marking roller, said marking roller and supporting roller being adapted to be rolled along a board or the like along which the frame member is moved, said marking roller having spaced annular rims extending radially therefrom adapted teen-gage a surface of said board or the like as the marking roller is rolled therealong, an ink-transfer device of rubber-like material mounted'inter'mediate said rims of the marking roller at a point around its circumference and protruding at said point radially outward beyond said rims to transfer ink from the ink-transfer device to a board or the like along which the marking roller is rolled, ink-supply means carried by said body portion of the frame member in position to supply ink to said ink-transfer device as said marking roller is rotated, said frame member having side wall pbrtions extending downwardly to below said ink-supply means and longitudinally of the frame member between said marking roller and supporting roller to :guard said inksupply means along the sides of the device, and yieldable detent means interengaging said frame member and marking roller for resisting free rotation of the marking roller and for yieldably holding the marking roller in a selected position of a plurality of selectable rotatable positions.

5. A marking device comprising the combination of, a frame member defining a longitudinally extending channel and having spaced skirt portions extending along the sides thereof, a marking roller journaled to said frame member adjacent one end thereof to rotate on an axis transverse to said channel, said marking roller having spaced annuiar rims extending radially therefrom to engage a board or the like along which the marking device edge thereof for providing frictional engagement with said board or the like, an ink-marking member mounted on said marking roller intermediate the said rims "and protruding radially outward therefrom at a point on the circ'umference of the marking roller to mark ink on said board or the like upon said point becoming the point of tangency between said board or the like and the marking roller as the markingroller is rolled along said board or the like, an ink-supplying roller journaled to said frame ember in said channel 'on an axis parallel to the axis of said marking roller andpositioned to engage and supply ink to said ink-marking member as said marking roller rotates, a supporting member mounted to said frame member adjacent an' opposite end thereof for engaging said board or the like to maintain the spacing of the frame member from the said board or thelike as the marking 7 device is moved longitudinally of said board or the like, said spaced skirt portions extending between the said marking roller and supporting member and to below the circumferential extent of said ink supplying roller to guard the ink-supplying roller from the sides of the device, and a guiding member carried by said frame member independently of the marking roller and disposed along said channel to engagera side of said board or the like along a line longitudinally of the device as said marking device is moved along the board or the like for maintaining the alignment of the marking device withrthe said board or the like, said guiding member extending forwardly to adjacent the marking roller and rearwardly to adjacent the supporting member to provide engagement with the board or the like at points adjacent both said marking roller and said supporting member. a

6. In a marking device for applying ink marks at predetermined intervals along a board or the like, the comto said body portion adjacent the forward end thereof and 7 marking roller adapted to rollingly engage a surface along which the marking roller is rolled, an ink-marking member of yieldable rubber-like material mounted on the marking roller intermediate said rims at a point on the circumference of the marking roller and extending parallel to the axis of the marking roller, said ink-marking member protruding radially outward of said rims to yieldably engage and mark ink upon a surface along which the marking device is moved at the point of tangency between said marking roller and said surface, a supporting roller journaled on said frame member at a distance from the marking roller on an axis parallel to the axis of the marking roller to support the frame member relative to said surface along which the marking device is moved, said frame member extending rearwardly of said supporting roller a predetermined distance to a reference location for providing a reference distance between said location and the said point of tangency between said marking roller and said surface, ink-supply means carried by the frame member for maintaining 'a supply of ink to said inkmarking member, and a spring-biased detent member carried by the frame member urged toward said marking roller, said marking roller having a plurality of dwells distributed therearound for cooperatively engaging said detent member whereby said marking roller may be selectively set at a predetermined rotative position upon interengagement of \the detent member and a selected dwell.

7. The combination of a marking roller, a supporting roller, an ink-supplying roller, a frame member carrying said rollers on parallel spaced axes, said frame member having a portion extending rearwardly of said supporting roller to abut a reference upright plane a predetermined distance from the point of tangency of the marking roller with a horizontal plane along which said marking roller and supporting roller are rolled, an ink-transfer member mounted on the circumference of the marking roller at a fixed location thereon and disposed along a line parallel to the axis of the marking roller, said ink-transfer member upon reaching said point of tangency being positioned at said predetermined distance from said reference upright plane, sm'd ink-supplying roller being disposed relative to the marking roller to engage and apply ink to the ink-transfer member on each rotation of the marking roller, resiliently yieldable detent means carried by the frame member, and a plurality of spaced detent-engaging means carried by the marking roller and associated with the detent means whereby the marking roller is yieldably restrained against rotation by the detent means engaging a selected one of the spaced detent-engaging means.

8. In a marking device, an ink-marking roller rollable along an upper surface of a board or the like, an inktransfer member radially protruding from the circumference of the ink-marking roller along a line parallel to the axis of the roller, a supporting roller having an axis spaced from and parallel to the axis of the ink-marking roller, a frame member carrying said rollers to permit the rolling of the rollers together along a course, ink-pad means carried by the frame member in position for recurrently engaging and applying ink to the ink-transfer member upon each rotation of the ink-marking roller, a longitudinal guide member carried by the frame member along a line disposed in a first plane normal to the axes of the ink-marking roller and the supporting roller, and adjustable means for raising and lowering the guide member relative to a second plane tangent to the circumferences of said ink-marking roller and supporting roller engageable by said upper surface of a board or the like whereby the guide member may be lowered below the said ink-marking roller and supporting roller to guidingly engage the side of a said board or the like.

i 9. A marking device comprising a frame member, said frame member forming an inverted channel defined by spaced side walls and a top wall, a marking roller journaled to said side walls adjacent a first end of the frame member, a supporting roller journaled to said side walls adjacent an opposite end of the frame member, an inksupplying roller for supplying ink to the marking roller journaled to said side walls immediate of said marking roller and said supporting roller, the axes of said marking roller, supporting roller and ink-supplying roller being disposed in parallel relationship, said marking roller being adapted to make an ink mark at the point of tangency between said marking roller and a common plane tangent to both said marking roller and said supporting roller and along which the device is rolled, said side walls extending between said marking roller and said supporting roller to embrace and protect the ends of said inksupplying roller, at least one of said side walls extending beyond said common plane along which the device is rolled at a location adjacent the said first end of said side wall and at a location adjacent the said opposite end to provide guiding engagement at said locations with the side edge of a board or the like along which the device is rolled, said frame member having a reference portion extending at said opposite end along a side wall thereof a distance beyond said supporting roller to provide a predetermined spacing of said point of tangency from a reference point on said plane coinciding with said reference portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 587,253 Adler July 27, 1897 679,290 Brewer July 30, 1901 1,229,476 King June 12, 1917 1,289,539 Powers Dec. 31, 1918 1,722,867 Testa July 30, 1929 1,830,145 Vieck Nov. 3, 1931 2,021,275 Warner Nov. 19, 1935 2,451,595 Wheeler Oct. 19, 1948 2,467,515 Young Apr. 19, 1949 2,778,305 Gottcho et al. Ian. 22, 1957 2,785,626 Brown et al Mar. 19, 1957 2,829,436 Leinwebber Apr. 8, 1958

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