US56593A - Apparatus for printing on bottles - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

vISAAC L. MILES, OF GHARLESTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 56,593, dated July 24, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC L. MILES, of Charlestown, in the county of Middlesex and State ot' Massachusetts, have invented an Apparatus for Printing on Bottles, Boxes, Gans, Ste., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specication', in which- Figure l is'a perspective view, of the apparatus which I employ, a bottle being represented (in red) in a position for being printed upon. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the center of the same. Fig. 3 is a section on the line .fr of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows 5. Fig. 4is a section on the line y y of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows 6. Y

It has heretofore been the practice, when a bottle, box, can, or other article was to be marked or labeled, either to employ a stencilplate or print a label and afterward paste it on, thus involving two separate operations.

AThe object of my invention is to dispense with a portion of this labor; and it consists in printing directly on the article by means of a yielding or elastic type, with the surface of which the bottle or other article is brought in contact, suitable guides or ways being provided, which may be raised or lowered to bring the article to the proper height for receiving the impression, the distance of which from the end of the article being regulated by an adjustable slide or gage operated by any suitable device, by which means the article is permanently marked in a convenient and expeditious manner, and a considerable reduction in the cost of marking the article is thereby effccted.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawings, A represents a box or casing, in the center of the top of which is cut a square slot for the passage of an upright standard, B, which carries the bed C, for the reception ofthe elastic type-block D. This standard B passes through a transverse block, E, which is secured to longitudinal strips F,

screwed to the under side of the top of the apparatus.

G is a cleat which serves to guide the standard B as it is moved vertically up and down by means of a lever, H, the inner end of which lits into the lower end ofthe standard B, while its outer end passes through the front of the casing, in which it is pivoted, and is provided with a knob or handle; and it is by the abovedescribed arrangement that the type-block D is raised when the type is to be inked.

a are slots or openings which extend out to the front of the apparatus, as seen in Figs. l and 4.

I is a flat strip, the bottom of ,which is secured to square pieces J, which slide longitudinally in the slots a, and are connected by a cross-bar, K, through each end of which and each side of the center of the front of the casing is bored a hole for the reception of a screw,

b, the extremity of which is confined by a fastening, c, Figs. 3 and 4, in the block E.

d is a cross-piece which serves to guide the vinner ends of the pieces J, which are thus moved back and forth, carrying with them the strip I, which serves as a guide or gage for regulating the distance of the printing from the end of the bottle. (seen in red, Fig. 1,) which is raised or lowered to accommodate itself to the type in a manner now. to be explained.

In the top of the casing A, and extending longitudinally therewith, are cut narrow slots e, through which rise the sliding bars L, which are united by connecting-bars M, which serve as ways upon which to roll the bottle or other article to be printed on.

Through each side of the casing A pass the screws N, the ends of which press the longitudinal bars O, Fig. 3, against the sliding bars L and clamp them against the strips F, whereby they are held securely in the right position for bringing the bottle in contact with the surface of the type.

fare screws, upon which rests the type-bed C, and by which the type-block D is adj usted. These screws f are operated when the ways M rest on the top of the box, and the thickness of the type-block employed is such that it requires to be raised to the level of the top of the ways; but where a type-block of sufficient thickness is used these screws may be dispensed with.

I?, Q, and R are cleats, which serve to guide and keep in place the bars O and pieces J.

Operation: The lever H being depressed, the elastic type is raised above the level of the ways M and the ink applied to the type in a A well-known manner. The distance of the impression from the end of the bottle or other article being determined, the gage I is adjusted to its required position by operating the screws b, as before described, and the bottle or other article is placed on the ways M. The article is now rolled over in contact with or pressed upon the surface of the elastic type, thus receiving` the impression, which, before being allowed to dry, is lightly rubbed over with a powder of bronze or other suitable preparation, applied by a brush, cushion, or in any other convenient manner.

When a bottle to be marked is intended to contain a substance ofa color which would not contrast sufficiently with the color of the bronze, the bronze may be dispensed with and an ink applied to the type of a different color,

from that of'the substance which the bottle is intended to hold.

In practice I prefer to use an ink containing about equal proportions of printers gold-size, Japan varnish, copal varnish, and printers varnish, with the desired coloring-matter incorporated therewith, as such ink will dry rapidly, which is not the case with the ordinary printerls ink containing lam p-black.

Instead of the gage I being movable, it may be permanently attached to the casing A, and the distance of the printing` from the end of the bottle or other article be Varied by means of strips ot' different widths placed between the gage and the article to be printed on.

In making the elastic type referred to I prefer to use the following` ingredients, in equal proportions, well mixed and boiled together,

viz: new strained honey, glue, and molasses,

the glue being rst dissolved in water.

After use the elastic type should be cleaned with common burning-duid.

I have spoken of the ways M as being made adjustable; but, when preferred, they may be permanently secured in place without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The within-described apparatus, consisting of the adjustable bed G, with its elastic typeblock D, ways M, and gage I, operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

I. L. MILES.

Witnesses P. E. TEsoHEMAoHER, vN. W. STEARNs.

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