US3774529A

US3774529A - Marking machine

Info

Publication number: US3774529A
Application number: US00117581A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Filsinger; R Mueller
Original assignee: Textile Marking Machine Co Inc
Current assignee: Textile Marking Machine Co Inc
Priority date: 1971-02-22
Filing date: 1971-02-22
Publication date: 1973-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-27

Abstract

Machine for permanent imprinting upon cloth fabric comprising a platen to support a piece of fabric, mechanism for moving a ribbon having a heat activated resinous coating from a retracted position to a position substantially overlying the platen, and for moving a heated printing plate having raised print faces thereon toward said platen in spaced relation to the ribbon and power mechanism for applying the print faces under pressure to the ribbon and fabric; to transfer and heat set resin from the film upon and into the fabric whereupon to imprint upon the fabric in transferred and heat set resin the indicia of the print faces of the heated print plate.

Description

United States Patent [191 Filsinger et al.

[ Nov. 27, 1973 MARKING MACHINE [75] Inventors: John F. Filsinger; Roger P. Mueller,

both of Syracuse, NY.

[73] Assignee: Textile Marking Machine Co., Inc.,

Syracuse, NY.

22 Filed: Feb. 22, 1971 211 App1.No.: 117,581

[52] US. Cl 101/27, 101/26, l0l/D1G. 4

[51] Int. Cl .1 B44b 7/02 [58] Field of Search 101/134.5, 26, 27, 101/9,10,l1, DIG. 4

[56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,973,853 3/1961 Freedson 101/27 X 2,562,984 8/1951 lmage 3,018,723 1/1962 Hike et a1.

2,370,416 2/1945 Polley 2,951,442 9/1960 Schwebel l01/134.5 X,

Sciame 101/9 Reader et al. 101/D1G. 4

Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-Ev M. Coven AttorneyF. P. Keiper [5 7 ABSTRACT Machine for permanent imprinting upon cloth fabric comprising a platen to support a piece of fabric,

mechanism for moving a ribbon having a heat activated resinous coating from a retracted position to a position substantially overlying the platen, and for moving a heated printing plate having raised print faces thereon toward said platen in spaced relation to the ribbon and power mechanism for applying the print faces under pressure to the ribbon and fabric; to transfer and heat set resin from the film upon and into the fabric whereupon to imprint upon the fabric in I transferred and heat set resin the indicia of the print faces of the heated print plate.

9 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures PAIENIEIJ NBY 2 7 191a SHEET 10F 5 JOHN F FILSINGER ROGER P. MUELLER IIIIIIIIIIIIIn ll l ul mmm 9. fm ATTORNEY.

PATENTEnuuvzv i975 3.774.529 SHEET 2 OF 5 JOHN E FILSINGER BY ROGER P. MUELLER ATTORNEY.

9 .8. mm u u R. m m loml mom 5 5A1 1 mm 9% X m o 0 PATENTEUnnvzv 197s SHEET 3 BF 5 R .R m m m T6 L I NN E H: I Em U ML M T 2m F x an N. F R a), mom :n N w H 0 \v on w R no w .VYOM N2 O hon won on 2n &5 08 N: O 01 ATTORNEY PATENTEDHUVZT 191a 3.774.529

SHEET '4 BF 5 FIG. ll

INVENTORS. JOHN. F. FILSINGER BY ROGER P. MUELLER ATTORNEY PATENTEDHUVZ? I975 SHEET 5 UF 5 INVENTORS JOHN F FlLSINGER BY ROGER R MUELLER ATTORNEY MARKING MACHINE This invention relates to a machine for making direct imprints on substantially all fabrics, in different colors, and of a permanent nature.

More particularly the machine comprises a print plate heated to a predetermined temperature, a platen to support a fabric to receive the imprint, a thermoplastic coated printing ribbon, and means for setting the apparatus in motion, applying the proper pressure, and timing the application. Additionally the machine includes an adjustable automatic ribbon feed to conserve ribbon useage.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understood that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the print making machine in retracted position;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of a heater for retaining a plurality of print plates preheated ready for use;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end view of machine print plate holder;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an interchangeable print plate;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the print plate;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the machine with parts broken away and parts in section, the machine being in preprint position;

FIG. 7 is a fragementary detail of the print pressure application linkage;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the machine with parts broken away;

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of the ribbon feed and control;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view of feed drive partly in section and taken substantially on the line 10-10 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is an electric circuit diagram for the apparatus;

FIG. 12 is a schematic fragmentary illustration of a holder for stacked cloth swatches for rapid imprinting;

FIG. 13 is a schematic fragmentary illustration of a feed for imprinting at intervals on continuous fed material; I

FIG. 14 is a typical garment element such as a collar piece upon which print has been directly applied by the apparatus;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the-machine in retracted position; and

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of the print ribbon.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1 and 15, there is shown a hollow base 20 having a forward extending hollow bracket 22 upon which is affixed an upstanding printing platen assembly 24, the upper surface element 26 of which comprises a stiff but resilient rectangular pad of neoprene, or other equivalent material capable of limited yield and of withstanding temperatures in the order of 450 degrees Fahrenheit. A piece of cloth or the like to which permanent printingis to be applied is indicated at C.

Mounted on the base, is a casing comprising side plates 30, 32, a front plate 34, and back and rear cover plates 36 and 38. Joumalled in the side plates is a transverse shaft 40 located in or slightly above the approximate plane of the surface 27 of the platen element 26. To shaft 40, are affixed spaced arms 42 and 44, for carrying a printing plate 50, the arms having extensions 46 for a manual operating handle 48. A channel member 52 extending crosswise between the side plates 30 and 32, and strengthened by a central member 54 extending to the back plate 36 is provided.

Secured to the arms 42 and 44 is a transverse member 64 fromwhich projects a trunnion member 66 of inverted T formation, the opposite cylindrical ends 68 and 70 of which afi'ord means to clamp the plate holder and plate assembly 72, in angular adjustable relation.

The plate holder assembly 72, as shown in FIG. 3 comprises a heat plate 74 having angle members 76 and 78 to form guides for the side edge portions of a print plate indicated at 50, and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Above the heat plate 74 is an electric heater unit 80, beneath a cover plate 82 secured as by screws 83. The cover plate is provided with a temperature control switching device 84. Afiixed to the cover plate are bearing blocks 86 engaging the under side of the trunions 68 and 70. Spaced straps 88 and 91) secured at one end as at 91 to the cover plate 82, overlie the trunions 68 and 70 and are each provided with a screw 92 threaded into the plate 82, and having a compression spring 94. Centrally between the trunion ends 68 and 70 is a stiff arm, 96 through which extends a third screw 98 threaded into the plate 82, such screw having a compression spring 100 disposed thereon between the bracket 96 and plate 82. By adjusting the screw 98, the

angle of the assembly is adjusted so that the face of the printing type 182 will meet the platen in a plane parallel thereto when the print plate is brought to print position.

Pivotally mounted on the shaft 40 is a ribbon carriage 110 comprising spaced members 1 12 and 114 each having integral depending arms 116 and 118 between which are rolls 117 and 1 19 over which a print ribbon member 64, so aligned as to engage a spacer bar 123 mounted between the respective members 112 and 114, and the tension of springs 67 connecting the plate assembly with the ribbon carriage. Slotted links 58 extending from brackets 68 on the channel member 54 to pivot bosses 62 on the members 112 and 114. limit downward movement, while spaced adjustable bumpers 56 aligned with the side members 112 and 114 limit counter-clockwise movement.

In order to apply print pressure to the print plate when it is moved to the print position, indicated in FIG.

6, the shaft 40 is provided with an arm 124 having a set screw 126 adapted to engage and trip a switch 128 mounted ona bracket 130, when the plate arm is moved beyond the preprint position indicated in FIG.

6. A compressed air cylinder 132 pivotally mounted at its upper end as at 134 on the member 54 has its piston rod 136 extending to a lever 138 fulcrummed as at 140 in the bracket 22, and disposed principally in the hollow base 20. The lever is provided with a return spring linkage 142 also extending to the member 54. Near the fulcrum end of the lever, a cam and hook link 144 extends upwardly through the base 20. Such link has a hook end 146, and an offset cam slot 148, through which extends a cross pin 150 affixed in spaced ears 149 on the bracket 131. A transverse member 152 affixed to the arms 42 and 44 is provided with depending ears 154 having a hook pin 156. Such pin, as it is moved from the position indicated in FIG. 1 clears the hook 146, in moving to the position shown in FIG. 6.

It will be seen that as the plate carriage is moved downwardly from the position shown at FIG. 6, switch 128 is closed to actuate air valve solenoid 1S8, supplying compressed air through conduit 160 to cylinder 132, whereupon the piston drives the lever 138 downwardly, moving the link 144 to hook position as offset cam slot 148 rides downwardly over pin 150, thus causing the hook to move forwardly and engage the hook pin 156, whereupon the parts are moved together to the position indicated in FIG. 7, to apply pressure to the heated print plate, which bears against the ribbon and the work piece C to imprint thereon the print plate legendary matter.

Upon closing of the switch 128, an RC electronic timer 170 in circuit with the solenoid 158 is energized, and depending on the setting of the manual control 172, usually a variable resistor, the circuit is interrupted after the selected dwell period, causing the valve 158 to reverse, and to vent the cylinder,permitting the return of the print assembly to return to the retracted position by spring 174 extending to arm 42, and the ribbon carriage to return to its retracted position by return springs 178 and 180 extending to projections 182 on the ribbon carriage members 112 and 114.

The ribbon 120 comprises a paper like carrier web having a heat activated resinous coating, which may be in any color. As pressure of the heated print plate is applied to the ribbon, with its coated face against the cloth to be marked, the coating is transferred to the cloth and permanently set therein by the heat. Since on each application, a portion of the ribbon is rendered unusable for a subsequent impression, the ribbon is fed from a roll supply 190, the spindle of which rests in open U slot bearings 192 in brackets 194 affixed to the carriage side members 112 and 114. The width of the ribbon is chosen in accordance with the length of the lineage of the indicia to be imprinted. To act as a brake on the feed roll, there is provided an ann 196 pivoted on shaft 40, having a rounded cross bar 198 at its end, and adapted to bear against the supply roll 190. Such bar is yieldingly urged against the roll 190 by a spring 200 extending between an extension 202 of the arm 196, to a cross member 204 extending between the arms 112 and 114. The arm 196 may be retracted to change rolls, and held in retracted position by a hook and slide means 206, sliding on the rod 208.

The ribbon extends from the supply roll 190 around rolls 117 and 119 and roll 210 and thence roll 212 to a take up roll 214. To maintain tension, a roll 216 journalled in a U frame 217 pivoted on the shaft 218 upon which roll 210 is supported, is urged toward rolls 212 by torsion springs 220 and holds the ribbon frictionally against said roll 212. The roll 212 controls the ribbon feed, and is affixed to a shaft 222 having a ratchet 224 and pawl 225 to prevent backward rotation, the shaft extending through the carriage, and having on its opposite end a ratchet feed, the feed increment of which may be varied in accordance with the overall height of the lineage or number of lines on the print plate.

The ratchet feed comprises a saw tooth ratchet wheel 226 affixed to the end of shaft 222, and behind which is an arm 227 having a ratchet pawl 228 spring urged against the wheel 226. The arm has an elongated slot 230, through which extends a pivot pin 232 afi'rxed to the end of a link 234 pivotally attached to the side casing wall 30 as at 236. By raising or lowering the pivot pin 232, the angle through whichthe arm 227 rotates upon each actuation of the ribbon carriage toward print position may be varied, and upon the return of the ribbon carriage in its rocking motion about shaft to the retracted position, the wheel 226 is rotated counter-clockwise as seen in FIG. 9, and the ribbon fed by its frictional contact with roll 212 and the frictional torque applied to roll 214, as will appear hereinafter.

For conveniently holding the pivot pin 232 at any desired height, there is provided a lever 240 pivoted to the casing side wall 30 as at 242, and having a series of deep notches 244 adapted to engage the pivot pin 232 and hold the same at any setting, the lever 240 being resiliently urged to a holding position by the tension spring 246. To vary the feed, the lever 240 is manually rotated slightly counter-clockwise as viewed in FIG. 9, sufficient to move the notches 244 out of engaging position with the pin 232 and by means of the knob 248, the pin 232 is moved up or down to the position desired, whereupon the lever 240 is released. The pin 232 seatsin a notch 232, where it is held until reset. The lever 240 may have indicia 250 thereon to indicate the a I feed increment, the lower notch being for a feed increment for a single line of print, whereas the maximumfeed for five lines would be the upper notch.

Actual take-up of the ribbon is effected on roll 214, which roll is a removable spool held between a spring pressed stub shaft 260 on one side, and a drive face plate 262 on the other side. The drive face plate is frictionally driven by a constant torque slip belt 264 extending from pulley 266 keyed to shaft 222 to pulley 268 on the face plate shaft 270.

To power actuate the machine as from a foot treadle 301, a double ended crank arm 303 may be affixed to the shaft 40, as shown in FIG. 9, outside of the casing side wall 30. The upper end of the arm is connected to the piston rod 304 of a small air cylinder 305, pivotted as at 307 to the casing wall 30. The lower end of 'the arm is provided with a fitting 308 for centering a shock absorbing spring 309, the fitting having a guide rod 310 slidable in a bracket 312 affixed to the casing wall 30. The bracket has centering means 314 for a shock absorbing spring 311, and a further shock absorbing spring 313 is disposed on rod 310.

The air cylinder is supplied with compressed air through line 316 from the foot actuated valve 301, which is connected to a source of air pressure regulated by a pressure reducing valve 320. The shock absorbing springs 309, 311 and 313 tend to prevent the power actuation from closing too hard or causing possible displacement of the work material.

The electrical control circuit of FIG. 11 comprises a 120 volt supply 340 connected to a terminal board 342, which may be mounted conveniently on member 54. A line switch 344, when closed completes a circuit through the thennal control 84 and plate heater 80, and to a pilot light 346 to indicate the heater as on, and to indicate the circuit 348 through micro-switch 128, timer 170 and air solenoid 158 as ready. Air pressure through solenoid valve 158 is regulated by a pressure reducing valve 159.

The printing plates, see FIGS. 4 and 5 comprise a slide member 350 with channel guides 352 to receive type blocks 354 locked in place between end blocks 356 having setscrews 358. Since the plate is heated, a coil spring type of cool handle 360 is provided. Because of the time required to bring the plate to printing temperature, and the desirability of being able to change plates quickly for imprinting difierent legendary matter, a plate heater 370 having a plurality of spaced shelves 372 each maintained at a suitable temperature as by heaters 374 is provided. Such heaters may be controlled as to temperature by a temperature sensitive control switch 376. As indicated, one or more plates 50 are retained on the shelves in preheated condition for instant substitution for the plate in the print machine, so that there need be no delay in operation of the machine with the substituted plate.

In FIG. 14, there is shown a typical cloth yoke or neck band 400 ready for stitching to a shirt, on which has been permanently imprinted a warning 402 such as DO NOT DRY CLEAN, which by reason of the permanent nature of the printed heat setting coating, will out last the garment. As shown in FIG. 16 such print ribbon may comprise a paper web 404 to which is applied the heat activated resin layer 406, the portions of which engaging the print faces of the type are heat transferred to and set in the fabric.

In FIG. 12, there is shown an adjunct to the machine in the form of a support arm 410 for a stack of work pieces 412 such as the neck band 400 of FIG. 14. The arm 410 is pivoted as at 411 on a lateral bracket 412 and resiliently urged toward a clamping face 414 by a spring 416. By this arrangement, the work pieces are held ready and suitably spaced for placing overthe platen 27, one at a time, properly located. As each receives its imprint it may be removed from the platen and the next applied.

In FIG. 13 a continuous feed arrangementis schematically indicated, there being provided spaced rolls.

420 and 422, and 424 and 426 between which a continuous fabric structure C comprising, for example, mate rial from which a series of waistbands 'may be cut. A power feed as indicated at 428 may be providedhaving means to feed, a predetermined length, following each imprint operation.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the machine provides for the heat transfer and setting from the heat activated thin film layer of the ribbon, of resin in exact conformance with the print faces of the heated printing plate. This is accomplished manually or by power. When the machine is idle, and in the retracted position, the hot plate is adequately spaced from the ribbon 122, by an adequate air space as seen in FIG. 1. When a print impression is to be made, the handle is lowered to bring the print plate to the approximate position indicated in FIG. 6, whereupon the switch 128 is tripped, and power from the cylinder 132, through the hook 146 and the arms 42 and 44, takes over, applying the desired print pressure. Once the switch is tripped, the timer 1170 acts to open the circuit after the desired dwell period, venting the cylinder to release the pressure previously applied to the print plate. During such dwell period, the ribbon heated by the print faces is transferred to the fabric and heat set, so that pennanent plastic indicia 403 is imprinted upon the fabric precisely in accordance with the print faces. The dwell periodis set so as to effect a sufiicient heat period for transferring and setting the heat set resins immediately under the print faces, that is not so long as to injure the fabric, or cause the remainder of the ribbon resins to soften or in any way be transferred to the fabric. By adjusting the time as at 172., the pressure as at 159 and indicated at gage 1611, and the temperature of the heater and plate 74, a clear and permanent print is obtained. These settings are related to each other, that is, time, pressure and temperature.

While a single ribbon in roll form is referred to, several narrow ribbons in roll form can be used side by side, each having a difference in color for example. If desired a single roll may have lengthwise areas of different print colors, and the width in a single roll can be varied, the width being determined by the overall length of the print lines. The roll may comprise a series of transfers, each one being successively fed into position by the proper adjustment of the roll feed mechanism.

While a single form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention. What is claimed is:

it. A machine for imprinting upon fabric work pieces such as cloth or the like in a permanent fashion com prising a base having an upstanding work support platen extending forwardly therefrom and side members, a cross shaft extending between the side members, a print plate carrier comprising a first pair of spaced arms pivoted on and extending forwardly from the cross shaft over said platen, a heater including a heat plate carried on said arms above said platen, a print plate having raised printing faces and mounted in heat transfer relation to said heat plate, a print ribbon carrier comprising second pair of arms pivoted on said shaft extending over said platen, said ribbon carrier arms having a print ribbon supply roll support, and each terminating in an inverted U frame configuration with depending arms disposed behind and in front of and extending below said print plate, ribbon guide rollersjoumalled in said depending arms, in front of and behind, and below said print plate and adapted to guide a print ribbon in a plane below and spaced from said heat plate, a ribbon take up means mounted on said ribbon carrier arms, means for moving said first pair of arms and said second pair of arms together about said shaft from retracted positions to a preprint position, with the ribbon plane in spaced relation to said heat plate, to bring the ribbon plane substantially in the plane of the platen to said preprint position, stop means for said second set of arms to limit the downward movement beyond the preprint position, and power means responsive to further movement of said first pair of arms beyond the preprint position to move said heat plate under pressure toward said ribbon plane, timer means for terminating the operation of said power means after a predetermined time, and means for retracting both pairs of arms to retracted position.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 having a print ribbon extending from a supply roll in said roll support and through the ribbon plane to the ribbon take up means, and a print plate having raised print plate having raised print faces disposed against said heat plate.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein the print ribbon comprises a thin carrier web and a thermoplastic coating.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 3 having means to advance the print ribbon take up means upon movement of said second pair of arms to retracted position.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 4 having means to vary the increment of advance of the print ribbon.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein the power means includes a lever disposed in the base and fulcrummed in the work support below the platen, an air cylinder mounted above the base and having a piston extending downwardly to the lever, an upstanding link pivoted to the lever intermediate of its length having a downwardly directed hook in its upper end and cam means for moving the link forward on downward movement of the lever, and a transverse pin carried by said first pair of arms and disposed so as to be located immediately forward of and below said hook when in the preprint position, whereby actuation of said power cylinder to move said lever downwardly cams the link and its hook forward over said pin and thereafter pulls the first set of arms downward to move the print plate toward the ribbon, and apply heat and pressure through the ribbon upon a work piece on the platen.

7. A machine as set forth in claim 4 having a rotatable feed roll frictionally engaging the ribbon affixed to a ribbon feed shaft joumalled in the second pair of arms, a ratchet arm pivoted on said shaft and having a ratchet feed to rotate the feed roll and a relatively fixed pivot for said arm disposed between said first named shaft, the U frame configuration, and said ribbon feed shaft.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein the ratchet arm is provided with a radial slot for said pivot, the pivot is mounted on the end of a link pivoted on one of said side members, and a second lever pivoted on the said side member and extending transversely with respect to said link is provided with a plurality of notches to engage the link pivot and hold the pivot in any one of said notches, at a selected distance from the notched lever pivot, whereby to effect a predetermined angular movement of the ratchet feed arm on movement of the second pair of arms to retracted position.

9. A machine as set forth in claim 2 having work feed means comprising feed rolls for moving increments of a continuous fabric structure over the platen, and power means for the feed rolls for feeding predetermined lengths following each imprint operation.

Claims

1. A machine for imprinting upon fabric work pieces such as cloth or the like in a permanent fashion comprising a base having an upstanding work support platen extending forwardly therefrom and side members, a cross shaft extending between the side members, a print plate carrier comprising a first pair of spaced arms pivoted on and extending forwardly from the cross shaft over said platen, a heater including a heat plate carried on said arms above said platen, a print plate having raised printing faces and mounted in heat transfer relation to said heat plate, a print ribbon carrier comprising second pair of arms pivoted on said shaft extending over said platen, said ribbon carrier arms having a print ribbon supply roll support, and each terminating in an inverted U frame configuration with depending arms disposed behind and in front of and extending below said print plate, ribbon guide rollers journalled in said depending arms, in front of and behind, and below said print plate and adapted to guide a print ribbon in a plane below and spaced from said heat plate, a ribbon take up means mounted on said ribbon carrier arms, means for moving said first pair of arms and said second pair of arms together about said shaft from retracted positions to a preprint position, with the ribbon plane in spaced relation to said heat plate, to bring the ribbon plane substantially in the plane of the platen to said preprint position, stop means for said second set of arms to limit the downward movement beyond the preprint position, and power means responsive to further movement of said first pair of arms beyond the preprint position to move said heat plate under pressure toward said ribbon plane, timer means for terminating the operation of said power means after a predetermined time, and means for retracting both pairs of arms to retracted position.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein the print ribbon comprises a thin carrier web and a thermo-plastic coating.

7. A machine as set forth in claim 4 having a rotatable feed roll frictionally engaging the ribbon affixed to a ribbon feed shaft journalled in the second pair of arms, a ratchet arm pivoted on said shaft and having a ratchet feed to rotate the feed roll and a relatively fixed pivot for said arm disposed between said first named shaft, the U frame configuration, and said riBbon feed shaft.