US3059571A - Marking apparatus - Google Patents

Description

F C. WORTH Oct. 23, 1962 MARKING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 16, 1960 I S-Sheets-Bh'eet l,

z INVENTOR.

43 F/m/vc/s C Wear ATTORNEY.

Oct. 23, 1962 F. c. WORTH 3,059,571

MARKING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 16, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Finn/a; C. WORTH United States Patent Ofi 3,059,571 Patented Oct. 23, 1962 York Filed Nov. 16, 1956 Ser. No. 69,718 18 Qla'm. (Cl. 101-35) This invention relates generally to marking apparatus, and more particularly is directed to apparatus for applying markings, preferably in the form of inked impressions, to successive articles, or to the boxes, cartons or containers in which the articles are packaged, as they are conveyed past the marking apparatus.

7 Where a manufacturing facility produces articles which are to be sold under different trademarks, or which are of dilferentstyles or types, colors and sizes, the finished articles, or the boxes, cartons or other receptacles in which they are packaged, frequently have indicia applied thereto for identifying the trademark, type or style, color and size of the particular article. If the various re quired indicia are applied to each article or its package by means of hand operated stamps, the marking operation obviously becomes a relatively time consuming and costly item in the manufacturing process. Although various types of marking apparatus have been developed to apply inked markings to successive articles, or their packages, as they are conveyed past the markings apparatus, thereby making the marking operation automatic, such previously developed marking apparatus usually has a marking element or elements removably attached to the surface of a marking roll for applying corresponding indicia to the successive articles or packages, and the indicia to be applied to the articles or packages can be changed only by halting the operation of the marking apparatus and the associated conveyor for the extended period of time required for exchanging the marking element or elements on the marking roll. Where the articles or packages carried by a conveyor all have the same markings or indicia applied thereto, the foregoing limitation of the existing marking apparatus is not an important disadvantage. However, a single production line frequently produces successive batches or lots of articles which are to be sold under different trademarks, or which are of different types or styles, colors and sizes, so that the indicia or markings to be applied to the articles or other packages during movement along a conveyor forming part of the production line are to be correspondingly varied from batch to batch.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for applying preferably inked markings to articles or packages conveyed successively past the marking apparatus, and wherein the markings applied to the packages or articles can be selectively varied in a rapid and convenient manner.

Another object is to provide a marking apparatus made up of a plurality of marking heads arranged at spaced apart locations along the path of travel of conveyed articles or packages so as to successively apply related markings which can be rapidly and conveniently varied or changed, whereby each conveyed article or package can have a plurality of markings applied thereto corresponding, for example, to the trademark, style or type, :olor and size of the particular article.

Still another object of this invention is to provide markng apparatus of the described. character with an imnroved inking assembly which ensures that the applied narkings will be of uniform intensity without regard o the level of the ink within an ink reservoir of the LSSCIIlblY.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a marking apparatus comprises at least one marking head disposed adjacent the path of travel of the conveyed articles or packages and having a marking assembly which is rotated in synchronism with the movement of the conveyed articles or packages and has an axially arranged series of resiliently mounted marking elements yieldably urged to radially retracted, inoperative positions, and a selected marking element is projected radially outward to an operative position where it effects rolling and marking contact with each of the successive conveyed articles or packages as the latter passes the rotated marking assembly.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the marking elements are resiliently mounted in a frame which is rotatable with a driven shaft, but axially movable along the latter by a control assembly, and an actuating assembly is fixed on the driven shaft and acts upon the marking element then aligned with the actuating assembly toproject such marking element to its operative or marking position so that the marking element moved to its operative position is always at the same axial location along the driven shaft to ensure the uniform location of the marking on each article or package.

In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, each marking head of the marking apparatus further includes an inking assembly made up of an ink transfer roll which is rotatably supported so as to eifect rolling and ink transferring contact with the marking element projected to its operative or marking position during rotation of the marking assembly, and further being in rolling contact with a rubber or felt surfaced inking roll which is, in turn, contacted by the serrated edge of a rotatable, dish-shaped pick-up member dipping into a supply of ink contained in an ink reservoir so that the inking roll receives ink from the rotated pick-up member at a uniform rate irrespective of the level of the ink in the reservoir, thereby to ensure that the successively applied markings are of uniformly intensity.

The above, and-other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection with the'accompanying drawingsforming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a marking apparatus embodying the present invention and which is shown associated with a conveyor carrying the articles or packages to be marked;

FIG. 2, is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the manking heads included in the marking apparatus of FIG. 1, but as viewed from the opposite side thereof;

FIG. 3 is a still further enlarged elevational view of the marking head of FIG. 2, as viewed in the direction of the arrows 3-3 on FIG. 2; i

FIG. 4 is a horizontal view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4; w a FIG. 6 is another horizontal sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a'fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 7-7'of FIG. 6; i

4 FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a portion of the marking assembly included in themarking head of the apparatus embodyingthe present invention;

FIG. 9 is 'a sectional view corresponding to a portion of FIG. 4, but showing the condition of the'illustrated structure during the selection of a marking element to be projected to the operativeor marking position;

. FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly broken away and in section, showing details of thehous:

ing included in the inking assembly provided for each marking head in the apparatus embodying this invention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view similar to a portion of FIG. 6, but with the marking assembly positioned for transfer of ink to its operative marking element from the inking assembly; and

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of the inking assembly, but with the housing being broken away and in section in order to disclose the internal construction of the inking assembly.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, it will be seen that a marking apparatus embodying the present invention and there generally identified by the reference numeral includes one or more marking heads 12 carried by a support 14 which is suitably mounted at one side of a conveyor 16 carrying successive articles or packages A past the marking apparatus. Although the conveyor 16 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an endless belt 18 running about horizontally spaced apart pulleys 20 and 22 and having pushers or lugs 24 projecting from the belt 18 so as to extend upwardly through an elongated slot 26 (FIG. 3) formed in a table 28 overlying the upper run of belt 18 and over which the articles A are slidably advanced in succession by engagement of each lug 24 in back of a conveyed article, it is to be understood that the marking apparatus 10 may be associated with any other type of conventional conveyor and that the latter, as such, forms no part of the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the support 14 for the marking head or heads 12 is in the form of an upright, horizontally elongated frame including vertical ends members 30 having their upper and lower ends connected by upper and lower longitudinal members 32. Parallel, spaced apart guide rails 34 extend between upright member 30 along the adjacent side of conveyor 16 and define a gap 36 between the guide rails through which each of the successive conveyed articles can be marked while the article slidably engages the guide rails and thus is laterally located by the latter. Conventional spring pressed hold-down means (not shown) may be employed to engage the tops of the articles during the marking operation.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, each of the marking heads 12 includes top and bottom frame members 38 and 40 which are secured, at one end, to the upper and lower longitudinal members 32 of support 14 and which extend laterally from the latter in the direction away from the conveyor 16. The ends of frame members 38 and 40 remote from support 14 are formed with rectangular cutouts 44 (FIGS. 3 and 6) in which an elongated bar 46 is vertically slidable. The bar 46 is clamped in a vertically adjusted position relative to frame members 38 and 40 by clamping bars 48 which span the recesses 44 and are secured to the adjacent ends of members 38 and 40 by screws 50. A fine adjustment of the vertical position of bar 46 relative to frame members 38 and 40 is achieved by rotation of an abutment screw 52 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which is engageable with the upper frame member 38 and which extends threadably through a plate 54 secured on the upper end of bar 46 by means of screws 56.

A vertical shaft 58 is rotatably mounted, adjacent its upper and lower ends, in bearings 60 and 62 carried by frame members 38 and 40, and the vertical shaft 58 further extends through a central hole in a plate 64 of generally circular configuration (FIGS. 4 and 6) which is secured by screws 66 to the vertical bar 46 and extends from the latter towards the support frame 14 at a level above the lower support member 40. A collar 68 is secured on shaft 58, as by a set screw or the like, above plate 64, thereby to vertically locate shaft 58 with respect to the frame of marking head 12.

Marking head 12 further generally includes a marking assembly 70 having T-shaped upper and lower plate members 72 and 74 each formed with an opening 76 (FIG. 8) through which shaft 58 extends and being held in parallel, spaced apart relationship by a rod 78 (FIGS. 3 and 6) extending between the free ends of the stem portions of the T- shaped members 72 and 74 and by side bars 80 (FIGS. 3, 6 and 8) which extend between the ends of the cap portions of members 72 and 74 and are secured to the latter by screws 82.

The marking assembly 70 further includes a vertically arranged series of marking elements 84 which each extend between side bars 80. Each marking element 84 has tongues 86 extending along its opposite end edges (FIG. 8) slidably engaging in corresponding grooves 88 formed in the confronting inner surfaces of side bars 80. Thus, the marking elements 84 are slidable relative to side bars 80 of marking assembly 70 in the directions toward and away from the axis of rotation of shaft 58. The outer longitudinal edge surfaces of marking elements 84, that is, the surfaces thereof facing away from the axis of shaft 58 are arcuate, as at 90, and the arcuate surface 90 of each marking element 84 has a particular logotype or other type element 92 secured thereto, for example, by adhesive or the like.

In order to yieldably hold the marking elements 84 between the side members 80, each of the marking elements has a pair of leaf springs 94 secured by screws 96 to the inner longitudinal edge of the marking element (FIGS. 6 and 8), and the free ends of leaf springs 94 project beyond the adjacent ends of the related marking element 84- and engage against the inner vertical edges of side bars 80, thereby to yieldably hold the marking elements 84 against radially outward movement. Radially inward removal of the marking elements from between side bars 80 is prevented by engagement of the free ends of the springs 94 with rods 98 which extend parallel to the inner vertical edges of the side bars 80 and are secured, at their opposite ends, to the upper and lower plate members 72 and 74.

In the marking apparatus 10 embodying this invention, the marking assembly 70 of each marking head 12 is vertically movable along the related shaft 58 so as to dispose a selected one of its marking elements 84 at the level of the gap 36 between the guide rails 34, that is, at a marking position where the selected marking element can project its type member 92 between guide rails 34 for rolling and marking contact with the adjacent side surface of an article or package A as the latter is carried past the marking head by the conveyor '16. In order to select the marking element 84' which is thus disposed at the marking position, each marking head 12 further includes a control assembly 100 made up of upper and lower arms 102 and 104 having bearings 106 and 108, respectively, at one end, which are slidable on shaft 58 above and below plate members 72 and 74, respectively, of marking assembly 70, while the other ends of arms 102 and 104 extend toward vertical bar 46 and are joined together by a connecting bar 110 extending parallel and adjacent to vertical bar 46. The control assembly 100 further includes a centrally bored knob 112 (FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 9) which is axially slidable on a pin 114 having a threaded inner end extension 116 screwed into a suitably tapped hole in the upper end portion of bar 110. Knob 112 is counterbored, as at 118 (FIGS. 4 and 9) to receive a head 120 on pin 114, and a helical compression spring 122 extends around pin 114 between the head 120 and the shoulder defined by the inner end of counterbore 118 so that spring 122 yieldably urges knob 112 in the axial direction towards bar 110.

The pin 114 extends through a vertically elongated slot 124 formed in vertical bar 46 and having a width substantially larger than the diameter of pin 114, and the end of knob 112 adjacent bar 110 is formed with a parallel sided projection 126 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 9) which is slidably received in slot 124 so as to prevent turning of '3 knob 112 on pin 1'14. Knob 112 is further formed with a projecting pin 128 at one side of projection 1.24 for engagement in a selected one of a vertically arranged series of holes 130 also formed in vertical bar 46 along one side of slot 124 (FIG. 2).

It will be apparent that, When pin 128 of knob 112 is engaged in a selected one of the holes 130, the control assembly 100 is disposed at a corresponding position alonng the shaft 58, and the marking assembly 70 is similarly positioned along shaft 58 so as to dispose a selected marking element 84 at the level of the gap 36 between the guide rails 34. When knob 112 is pulled axially outward, that is, in the direction away from vertical bar 46 so as to withdraw pin 128 from the hole 130 in which it is engaged, as in FIG. 9, the control assembly 109 is then free to be vertically displaced along shaft 58 so as to cause corresponding vertical displacement of marking assembly 70 for locating another of the marking elements at the gap 36, whereupon knob 112 can be released for movement by spring 122 in the axial direction reengaging pin 128 with the registered hole 130.

As shown in FIG. 2, vertical bar 46 preferably has a series of numerals 132 arranged along slot 124 at the side of the latter opposite to the series of holes 130 and being laterally aligned with the respective holes 130 to identify the latter. Further, the knob 112 has a bevel 134 (FIGS. 3 and defining an index which cooperates with the numerals 132 to identify the hole engaged by pin 128, and thus to identify the marking element 84' of marking assembly 70 which is then positioned at the gap 36.

As previously indicated, the leaf springs 94- on the marking elements 84 yieldably urge the latter radially inward to inoperative retracted positions, and the marking head 12 further includes an actuating assembly 136 disposed at the level of the gap 36 between guide rails 34 and acting on the marking element which is registered with the gap 36 to urge the registered marking element radially outward to an operative position, as indicated at 84' on FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7. The type member 92 carried by the operative marking element 84' can project through the gap 36 for rolling and marking contact with the adjacent side surface of an article A conveyed past the marking head.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the actuating assembly 136 includes a generally Y-shaped body 138 having a hole 140 extending therethrough to receive shaft 58 and being secured on the latter, as by a set screw 142. Thus, a body 138 is adjustably fixed on shaft 58 at the level of the gap 36 Y-shaped body 138 has arms 144 which slidably embrace the side bars 80 of marking assembly 70 so that, while the latter is free to be axially displaced along shaft 58 in the manner previously described, the engagement of arms 144 with side bars 80 causes marking assembly 70 to rotate with body 138 and hence with shaft 58.

Actuating assembly 1 36 further includes a pusher member 146 which is movable radially toward and away from the axis of shaft 58 in a recess 148 formed in body 138 between the arms 144 of the latter. Pusher member 146 carries a roller 15% which makes rolling contact with the central portions of the inner longitudinal edges of the marking elements 84 as the latter are moved past actuating assembly 136 in response to displacement of marking assembly 70 axially along shaft 58. Pusher member 146 is guided in its movements relative to body 138 by means of parallel pins 152 projecting from pusher member 146 and slidably received in parallel bores 154 formed in the body. Further, pusher member 146 is urged radially outward away from shaft 58 by means of 1611631 compression springs 156 disposed in bores 154 and hearing, at their opposite ends, against pins 152 and against screws 158 threaded into tapped ends of bores [54 so that the forces exerted by springs 156 can be adusted by turning screws 158.

and is rotatable with the shaft 58. The

Pusher member 146 and its roller are dimensioned so that the marking element engaged at its inner longitudinal edge by roller 151 is yieldably urged radially outward to its operative position, as at 84' in FIG. 7. In order to ensure that only a marking element which is fully registered with gap 36 between guide rails 34 will be moved radially outward to its operative position, the central portion of the inner longitudinal edge of each marking element is formed with bevels 16%) (FIGS. 6, 7 and 8). Thus, when a marking element is not fully registered with gap 36 during vertical displacement of the marking assembly 70, roller 158 of actuating assembly 136 rides on the beveled surfaces 160 of adjacent marking elements to permit such adjacent marking elements to be withdrawn radially inward to their inoperative positions by springs 94, thereby avoiding engagement of the marking elements with the guide rails 34 which would interfere with vertical displacement of the marking assembly.

Each of the marking heads 12 of marking apparatus 10 is operated in synchronism with the movement of the articles or packages A by conveyor 16 so that, as each article or package A passes a marking head 12, the marking assembly 78 thereof is rotationally positioned to project its operative marking element 84' through gap 36 into rolling and marking contact with the adjacent side surface of the article or package. Further, during such rolling and marking contact of a marking element with the .article or package, the peripheral speed of the operative marking element is equal to the linear speed of advancement of the article or package, thereby to avoid blurring of the inked impression applied thereto.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the desired operation of marking heads 12 in synchronism with the movements of the successive articles or packages A is achieved by driving the shaft 58 of each marking head from the conveyor with a suitable transmission ratio being provided in the drive mechanism. As shown in FIG. 3, the lower end portion of shaft 58 of each marking head 12 projects downwardly below lower frame member 41 and has a split clamp 162 secured thereon. A sprocket 164 is rotatably disposed on the lower end portion of shaft 58 below clamp 162 and has a coupling pin 166 projecting axially therefrom into a corresponding axially directed bore 168 in the clamp 162 so that shaft 58 is rotatably coupled with sprocket 164. In order to hold sprocket 164 on shaft 158, a retaining plate 170 is provided with a bearing 172 receiving the lower end of shaft 58 below sprocket 164, and screws 174 extend through plate 170 and tubular spacers 176 into suitably tapped holes in lower frame member 41).

Sprocket 164 of the head 112 in the left-hand portion of FIG. 1 is driven by a chain 178 running around a sprocket 180 fixed on a drive shaft 182 which also carries a bevel gear 184 meshing with a bevel gear 186- rotatable with pulley 20 of conveyor 16. Where the marking apparatus includes two or more marking heads 12, as in FIG. 1, the successively arranged marking heads may be driven, in turn, from the preceding heads. Thus, the marking head 12 appearing in the right-hand portion of FIG. 1 has its sprocket 164 driven by a chain 178a which runs around a drive sprocket 180a fixed on the lower end of the shaft 58, or otherwise rotatably coupled to the sprocket 164 of the preceding marking head 12, that is, the marking head appearing in the left-hand portion of FIG. 1.

When it is desired to adjust the rotational position of the marking assembly 70 with respect to the positions along the conveyor 16 of the successive articles or packages A, the clamp 162 may be loosened to permit turning of shaft 58 relative to sprocket 164, or the set screw 142 securing the body 138 of actuating assembly 136 to shaft 58 can be loosened to permit turning of the marking assembly relative to shaft 58. When it is desired to vary the rotational speed of the marking assembly 70 relative to the speed of advancement of the conveyor 16,

the retaining plate 179 can be removed to permit replacement of the sprocket 164 by a suitably dimensioned sprocket.

Since the marking apparatus is intended to apply inked markings to the successive conveyed articles or packages, each marking head 12 further includes an inking assembly 133 made up of an upwardly opening cylin' drical housing 190 having a filler neck 192 extending therefrom for introducing ink into the housing which defines an ink reservoir in its lower portion. A rotatable shaft 194 extends through the bottom of housing 19%) adjacent the side wall of the latter and is surrounded by a sleeve 196 projecting from the bottom of the housing. A collar 1% is fixed on shaft 194 under the bottom wall of housing 199 so that collar 198 supports housing 199 on shaft 194. The lower end of shaft 194 is adapted to extend into the upper hollow portion of a drive shaft 200 which extends rotatably through a pedestal 292 mounted in upright position on an extension 204 of plate 64. The shafts 194 and 260 are releasably coupled by a diametrical pin 2&6 (FlG. 3) extending across the upper hollow portion of shaft 200 for reception in a downwardly opening slot 268 (FIGS. 3 and 12) formed at the lower end of shaft 194. Thus, the inking assembly 188 is easily removable from the rest of the marking head 12 merely by upward withdrawal of shaft 194 from the hollow upper end of shaft 200. A pinion 210 is secured on shaft 200 below plate 64 and meshes with a spur gear 212 which is secured on rotated shaft 58. Thus, shaft 194 is normally rotated from shaft 58 to effect rotation of an ink transfer roll 214 which is fixed on the upper end portion of shaft 194 above sleeve 196. Ink transfer roll 214 is vertically located at the level of the actuating assembly 136, that is, at the level of the marking element 84' projected radially outward to its operative position, and the ink transfer roll 214 extends through a cutout 216 in housing 190 (FIGS. 6 and 10) to effect rolling contact with the type element 92 of the operative marking element 84- during rotation of marking assembly 70, as shown in FIG. 11.

The ink transfer roll 214 is in continuous rolling contact with a rubber or felt surfaced inking roll 218 which is rotatably mounted within housing 190 on the upper portion of a a vertical axle 220. Axle 220 extends from an arm 222 which is adjustably secured to the bottom of housing 190 by a screw 224 (FIGS. 6 and 12) for varying the contact pressure between rolls 214 and 218. Inking roll 218 is driven from ink transfer roll 214- by means of meshing spur gears 226 and 228 which are rotatably mounted on the upper ends of shaft 194 and axle 220, respectively, and which are rotatably coupled to the ink transfer and inking rolls by means of pins 230 and 232 projecting axially from the related rolls 214 and 218 and being engageable in arcuate grooves 234 and 236 (FIG. 4) formed in the lower surfaces of gears 226 and 228. The gears 226 and 228 are held axially on shaft 194 and axle 220, respectively, by means of a cover 238 (FIG. 10) having a depending rim 240 extending from a portion of the periphery thereof for insertion into the upper end portion of housing 190. The rim 240 is formed with diametrically opposed bayonet slots 242 adapted to receive diametrically opposed, inwardly directed pins 244 extending from the upper end portion of housing 190 for locking the cover 238 on the housing.

In order to apply ink to the peripheral surface of inking roll 218 from a supply of ink in the lower portion of housing 190, the inking assembly 188 further includes a dish-shaped ink pick-up member 246 (FIGS. 6, 11 and 12) rotatably mounted on an axle 248 projecting radially from a collar 250 secured on axle 220. A spring 252 is provided on axle 248 to urge pick-up member 246 axially toward axle 220, and pick-up member 246 is dimensioned so that a serrated rim 254 at its periphery contacts the rubber or felt surface of inking roll 218. Thus, pick-up member 246 is rotated by frictional contact of its serrated rim 254 with the surface of rotated inking roll 218 and acts to pick up ink from the supply thereof at the bottom of housing 190 for transfer to the surface of ink ing I011 218. By reason of the pick-up member 246, ink is uniformly applied to the surface of inking roll 218 irrespective of the level of the ink supply in housing 190; The ink applied to the surface of inking roll 218 is then transferred to the ink transfer roll 214 which, in turn, ap' plies ink to the raised surfaces of the type element 92 carried by the arcuate outer longitudinal edge of the operative marking element 34.

The inking system 183 is completed by a wiper 256 (FIGS. 6 and 12) which is mounted on the upper end of a post 258 extending from the bottom of housing 190 adjacent shaft 194, and the wiper 256 engages the upper and lower surfaces of transfer roll 214 adjacent the periphery of the latter to remove ink therefrom following rolling contact of the peripheral surface of transfer roll 214 with inking roll 218, thereby to ensure that ink will not build up on the upper and lower surfaces of transfer roll 214 and possibly be centrifugally driven from roll 214- against the articles being conveyed past the marking head;

It will be apparent that, in the marking apparatus 10 described above, the marking heads 12 can be provided with marking elements which respectively correspond to different classes of markings or indicia to be applied to the successively conveyed articles or packages, for example, different trademarks, type or style markings, colors or sizes. As an article or package A is conveyed past the marking apparatus 10, it receives successive markings from the marking elements 84 of the several marking heads 12 which are then in operative position. Merely by vertically adjusting the control mechanism of each marking head 12, the marking applied by that head can be changed in a convenient and rapid manner, so that the marking apparatus 10 is perculiarly adapted to the application of different markings to succesive batches or lots of articles or packages transported by a single conveyor.

Although a particular embodiment of this invention has been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understoood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A marking head comprising a rotated shaft, a marking assembly rotatable with said shaft and being axially movable along the latter, said marking assembly including a plurality of marking elements spaced apart in the direction of the axis of said shaft and being individually movable radially between an inoperative radially retracted position and an operative radially projected position, means urging said marking elements to said inoperative radially retracted positions, means at a predetermined location along said shaft acting on a selected one of said marking elements registering radially with said predetermined location to move said selected marking element to said operative radially projected position thereof, and control means operative to selectively hold said marking assembly at a plurality of axial locations along said shaft corresponding to the radial registration of related marking elements with said predetermined location along the shaft, thereby to select the marking element which is to be moved to its operative position.

2. A marking head comprising a rotated shaft, a frame rotatable with said shaft and being axially movable along the latter, said frame having a pair of spaced apart side bars extending parallel to said shaft and being radially spaced from the latter, a plurality of marking elements extending between said side bars at locations spaced apart along the latter and being movably supported by said side bars for individual displacement radially with respect to said shaft between an inoperative radially retracted position and an operative radially extended position, spring means urging each of said marking elements radially inward with respect to said side bars to said inoperative position, actuating means fixed on said shaft and acting against the marking element which is registered radially with the actuating means to move that marking element to its operative position, and control means oper alive to selectively hold said frame at a plurality of axial locations along said shaft corresponding to the radial registration of related marking elements with said actuating means, thereby to select the marking element which i moved to its operative position.

3. A marking head comprising a rotated shaft, a frame rotatable with said shaft and being axially movable along the latter, said frame having a pair of spaced apart side bars extending parallel to said shaft and being radially spaced from the latter, a plurality of marking elements extending between said side bars at locations spaced apart along the latter and being movably supported by said side bars for individual displacement radially with respect to said shaft between an inoperative radially retracted position and an operative radially extended position, spring means urging each of said marking elements radially inward with respect to said side bars to said inoperative position, actuating means including a body fixed on said shaft and carrying a presser member which is yieldably urged radially outward with respect to said shaft to act against the marking element registered with said presser member and thereby move said registered marking to its operative position, and control means operative to selectively hold said frame at a plurality of axial locations along said shaft at which corresponding marking elements are registered with said presser member, thereby to select the marking element which is moved to its operative position.

4. A marking head as in claim 3 wherein said body of the actuating means has spaced apart arms slidably embracing said side bars of the frame to cause rotation of the latter with said shaft, while leaving said frame free for axial movement along the shaft.

5. A marking head as in claim 3; further comprising a stationary elongated bar extending parallel to said shaft and having openings therein which are spaced apart along said bar and correspond to said marking elements; and wherein said control means includes a knob movable along said elongated bar and having a projecting pin selectively engageable in said openings of the bar, a pair of connected arms slidably engaging said shaft with said frame between said arms and means attaching said knob to said pair of connected arms so that said frame is displaced axially along said shaft in response to the movement of said arms with said knob along said elongated bar.

6. A marking head as in claim 5; wherein said elongated bar has a slot extending longitudinally therealong, said knob has a flat-sided projection slidable in said slot, and said means attaching the knob to the connected pair of arms includes a bolt secured to said connected pair of arms and extending slidably in said knob through said slot of the elongated bar with said fiat-sided projection cooperating with said slot to hold said knob against rotation on said bolt in a rotational position where said pin of the knob is engageable with said openings of the elongated bar.

7. A marking head comprising a rotated shaft, a frame rotatable with said shaft and being axially movable along the latter, said frame having a pair of spaced apart side bars extending parallel to said shaft and being radially ipaced from the latter, a plurality of marking elements extending between said side bars at locations spaced apart ilong the latter and being movably supported by said side mm for individual displacement radially with respect to :aid shaft between an inoperative radially retracted posiion and an operative radially extended position, spring means urging each of said marking elements radially intransfer roll disposed for rolling contact with the selected marking element moved to its operative position for applying ink to said selected marking element during rotation of said frame with said shaft.

8. A marking head as in claim 7; wherein said inking means further includes a housing defining a reservoir for ink at the bottom thereof, an inking roll rotatably mounted in the upper portion of said housing and in rolling con tact with said transfer roll, and a dish-shaped pick-up member rotatable in said housing about an axis which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said inking roll and having a serrated peripheral rim in frictional contact with the periphery of said inking roll so that said pick-up member is rotated by said inking roll and picks up ink from the reservoir for application to said inking roll.

9. A marking head as in claim 8; further comprising gear means driving said ink transfer roll from said rotated shaft, and gear means driving said inking roll from said transfer roll.

10. A marking head comprising a support structure in cluding a vertical, elongated bar, a rotated shaft mounted in said support structure and extending parallel to said bar, a marking assembly including a frame slidable on said shaft and a vertically arranged series of marking elements mounted in said frame and being individually radially movable between a retracted inoperative position and an extended operative position, spring means yieldably urging said marking elements radially inward to their inoperative positions, actuating means fixed on said shaft at a predetermined level and acting on the marking element at said level to project such marking element radially outward to its operative position, means slidably engaging said frame to cause rotation of the latter with said shaft while leaving said frame free to move axially along the shaft, and control means engageable with said frame of the marking assembly to move the latter axially along said shaft and being releasably secured to said bar at selected locations along the latter corresponding to positioning of related marking elements at said predetermined level.

11. A marking head as in claim 10; wherein said control means includes a pair of arms slidable on said shaft respectively above and below said frame of the marking assembly, a connecting bar securing together said arms and extending parallel and adjacent to said elongated bar, said elongated bar having a vertically elongated slot therein and a series of holes arranged along one side of said slot, a bolt extending from said connecting bar through said slot, a knob slidable on said bolt at the side of said elongated bar facing away from said connecting bar and having a pin projecting therefrom for selective engagement in said holes of the elongated bar, thereby to releasably secure the control means at selected locations along said elongated bar, and means yieldably urging said knob axially along said bolt in the direction inserting said pin in the selected hole.

12. A marking head as in claim 10; wherein said frame of the marking assembly includes a pair of parallel side bars extending vertically at equal distances from said shaft and having paired horizontal grooves in their confronting surfaces, and each of said marking elements has tongues extending along the opposite end edges thereof and slidably engaging in a related pair of said grooves in the side bars.

13. A marking head as in claim 10; wherein said actuating means includes a body fixed on said shaft, a presscr member mounted for movement relative to said body in the radial direction and spring means urging said presser member radially outward to act against the radially inward edges of said marking elements.

14. A marking head as in claim 12; wherein said spring means yieldably urging said marking elements radially inward to their inoperative positions includes leaf springs secured to each marking element and projecting beyond the opposite ends of the latter to engage the radially inner vertical edges of said side bars; and wherein said marking assembly further includes rods extending parallel to said inner vertical edges of the side bars to retain said leaf springs therebetween, thereby to prevent radially inward removal of said marking elements from between said side bars.

15. A marking head as in claim 13; wherein said presser member has a roller rotatable thereon for contact with the marking elements, and each of said marking elements has bevels on its radially inward edge so that, when a marking element is only partly disposed at said predetermined level, said roller simultaneously engages the bevels of two adjacent marking elements, thereby to permit the latter to remain in their inoperative positions.

16. The combination of a conveyor operative to transport a succession of articles along a substantially horizontal path of travel; marking apparatus comprising at least one marking head disposed at one side of said path of travel and including a vertical rotatable shaft, a marking assembly rotatable with said shaft and being vertically movable along the latter, said marking assembly having a vertically arranged series of marking elements which are individually movable radially between a retracted inoperative position and an extended operative position where the marking element can eflect rolling and marking contact with a conveyed article, means yieldably holding said marking elements in their inoperative positions, actuating means fixed on said shaft at the level of said path of travel and acting radially outward against the marking element at said level to urge said marking element to its operative position, and control means operative to dispose said marking assembly in selected vertical positions and thereby select the marking element which is at said level and thus moved to its operative position by said actuating means; and drive means operative to rotate said shaft in i2 synchronism with the movement of articles by said conveyor so that the operative marking element of each marking head eifects rolling and marking contact with each of the successive articles as the latter pass the related marking head.

17. In an apparatus for applying markings to successive articles conveyed therepast having a marking element for rolling and marking contact with the successive conveyed articles; an inking assembly comprising a housing defining a reservoir for ink at the bottom thereof, an inking roll rotatably mounted in the upper portion of said housing, an ink transfer roll disposed for rolling contact with the marking element and with said inking roll, a pick-up member rotatable in said housing about an axis normal to the axis of rotation of said inking roll and having a peripheral rim in frictional contact with the periphery of said inking roll so that the pick-up member is rotated by said inking roll to pick up ink from the reservoir and apply it to the inking roll, and means for driving said inking roll.

18. In an apparatus for applying markings to successive articles conveyed therepast having a marking element for rolling and marking contact with the successive conveyed articles; an inking assembly comprising a housing defining a reservoir for ink at the bottom thereof, an inking roll rotatably mounted in the upper portion of said housing, an ink transfer roll disposed for rolling contact with the marking element and with said inking roll, a dish-shaped pick-up member rotatable in said housing about an axis normal to the axis of rotation of said inking roll and having a serrated peripheral rim in frictional contact with the periphery of said inking roll so that the pick-up member is rotated by said inking roll to pick up ink from the reservoir and apply it to the inking roll, means for driving said ink transfer roll, and means driven from said last named means for driving said inking roll.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,623,478 Jahn Apr. 5, 1927 2,602,393 Hirschey July 8, 1952 2,719,484 Wardell et a1. Oct. 4, 1955 2,834,286 Jakob May 13, 1958 2,949,079 Beattie Aug. 16, 1960 2,952,204 Sherman Sept. 13, 1960

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