WO2024211951A1 - Turning device for a self-inking stamp - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a turning device (2) for a self-inking stamp (1), comprising a housing (3) and an actuating part (4), wherein the actuating part (4) is connected to the housing (3) and can be moved relative to the housing (3), wherein the actuating part (4) is designed to support and entrain a turning shaft for a printing tool, wherein the turning device comprises a restraining device (19) which makes it difficult to release the actuating part (4) from the housing (4) when the turning shaft has been removed from the actuating part (4), the restraining device (19) being in the form of a lock, and the lock (18) being self-locking.

Description

turning device for a self-inking stamp

The invention relates to a turning device for a self-inking stamp and a method for using it, the turning device comprising a housing and an actuating part, the actuating part being connected to the housing and being displaceable relative to the housing, the actuating part being designed to support and carry a turning axis for an impression tool, the turning device having a retaining device which makes it difficult for the actuating part to be detached from the housing when the turning axis is removed from the actuating part. The turning device has neither an impression tool nor an ink pad nor a turning axis and is therefore not a complete stamp in itself. The support and carry of the turning axis can be ensured, for example, by corresponding axle bearings in the actuating part. The actuating part is often bow-shaped, for example as an actuating bow.

Such turning devices have the advantage that they allow stamps to be customized as late as possible: a generic turning device without an impression tool (e.g. a plate carrier or a type unit) can be manufactured, delivered and stored in relatively large quantities; this means that all options are open for customization and customization can be carried out close to the end user and immediately before acceptance or by the end user himself, who receives the impression tool separately and assembles it with the turning device. This means that, for example, a standardized turning device can be manufactured and kept in stock regardless of international differences (e.g. different date formats for type units for Europe or North America).

Another advantage of such turning devices is that the impression tool can be replaced. The impression tool is usually subject to aging effects - due to the material - and therefore has a limited service life of, for example, 10 to 15 years. In order to ensure a predefined minimum service life when delivering a self-inking stamp with a turning device and an impression tool, it may be necessary to renew the impression tool in advance, i.e. to replace it with a newer impression tool. Such a renewal can be carried out at regular intervals, for example once a year, for stocks. First, a turning axis is removed from the self-inking stamp and then the impression tool is replaced. When the turning axis is removed, however, the actuating part can easily come loose from the housing, causing the turning device to fall apart into its individual parts. disintegrates. In particular, a plunger spring between the actuating part and the housing, which is responsible for resetting the actuating part after an impression, can cause such a release.

Known turning devices already allow such an exchange and attempt to address the problem described above, but are associated with various disadvantages:

EP 3 489 023 Bi shows several different variants of self-inking stamps and corresponding turning devices. To ensure that the actuating part cannot simply be pulled out of a receiving channel in the housing, a guide system comprising a guide track and a guide knob is provided. The guide knob is designed to be resilient and can be deformed or can give way when the turning device is assembled, so that it snaps into the guide track. The guide track is limited by two end stops. This is intended to ensure that the actuating part cannot simply be pulled out of the guide channel. The guide knob described in the prior art can also give way in the other direction - as expressly disclosed for assembly. Although the guide knob makes it more difficult to release the actuating part from the housing, it does not reliably prevent it.

In an alternative variant, also disclosed in EP 3 489 023 Bi, the release of the actuating part from the housing when the turning axis is removed can be actively blocked by the user by activating a lock. The lock can fix the self-inking stamp in different positions, e.g. in a depressed transport position or in a position for changing the ink pad, and is therefore naturally designed to be self-releasing so as not to hinder the use of the stamp. A disadvantage of this variant is that the active activation of the lock can be forgotten. A further disadvantage is that the lock can easily release unintentionally (more or less by itself due to slight vibrations when handling) and then the actuating part jumps out of the housing due to the spring preload of the stamp spring.

For self-inking stamps where the turning axis cannot be removed, a retaining device can be provided for another purpose, such as changing an ink pad. These different retaining devices are located elsewhere and are designed as a manually activated lock, because otherwise they would hinder the self-inking function of the stamp during normal operation. Examples of such different types of restraint devices are shown in WO 2023/019285 Ai and in WO 2010/085828 A2.

It is an object of the invention to eliminate or at least alleviate the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the reliability of retaining the actuating part in the housing when the turning axis is removed should be increased.

This object is achieved according to the invention in a turning device of the type mentioned at the outset in that the retaining device is designed as a lock, wherein the lock is self-locking. The retaining device corresponds to a positive locking device.

Compared to the knob known in the prior art, a lock has the advantage that it cannot come loose accidentally and that movement in the locking direction beyond the lock is reliably blocked or limited. In particular, the lock limits the range of movement of the actuating part relative to the housing. For example, a lock can reliably prevent the actuating part from coming loose, regardless of the spring force of the plunger spring, of any impulse when the actuating part is released from a depressed position, of the friction of a knob surface (which may be reduced by contamination), of manufacturing fluctuations or subsequent material changes (e.g. changes in dimensions, elasticity and surface) over time. Failure of the lock only by applying force in the locking direction (i.e. in the direction of movement parallel to which the actuating part can be moved relative to the housing) is therefore impossible or at least not possible without causing damage. The retaining device can be specially designed to retain the actuating part in a retaining position. Fixing the actuating part in other positions, for example in a transport position or a cushion changing position, can be achieved using other means. Because the lock is self-locking, its function does not have to be actively operated and activated. The lock disclosed here is therefore safer than the known self-releasing lock, the activation of which can be overlooked (e.g. not operated), can be faulty (e.g. not operated sufficiently) or can fail (e.g. released by vibration).

The restraint device has, for example, a stop and a restraint element which rests against the stop in a restraint position, wherein the restraint element is designed as a self-locking locking element. The locking element blocks or locks a movement beyond the stop. The locking effect is achieved by a positive connection between the retaining element and the stop.

In particular, the locking element can absorb a spring force of a stamp spring in the retaining position, whereby the stamp spring is arranged between the housing and the actuating part and is designed to return the self-inking stamp from an impression position to an inking position. This means that the stamp spring can still be at least partially compressed in the retaining position. The spring force then preloads the locking element against the stop. The locking element can be designed, in particular dimensioned, to reliably absorb at least this force. The inking position is the position of the self-inking stamp in which an impression surface of the impression tool is pressed against an ink pad in the housing of the stamp in order to ink the impression tool - this is the self-inking that gives it its name.

In the retaining position, the actuating part is optionally further away from the imprint position than in the inking position. In other words, the retaining position is arranged "above" the inking position. The actuating part can therefore only reach the retaining position when the turning axis is removed and/or when there is no ink pad. Otherwise, i.e. when the self-inking stamp is ready for use, the actuating part is blocked in the inking position, cannot be moved further out of the housing and cannot reach the retaining position. This prevents the lock from hindering the use of the self-inking stamp and in particular its self-inking.

The locking element can optionally be mounted so that it can move transversely to the locking direction, in particular with a spring. A movable locking element enables the locking element to be intentionally released manually if the actuating part is to be released from the housing. The locking element can be moved into a release position by the user and thus released from the stop, for example by moving it transversely to a direction of movement of the actuating part.

The locking element can have a locking surface which rests against the stop in a retaining position and a rear side opposite the locking surface, whereby an outer edge of the rear side can have a bevel. When assembling the turning device, when the actuating part is brought together with the housing, the locking element can be guided along the bevel to slide into the release position. This makes assembly easier because the locking element does not have to be moved into the release position. As soon as the actuating part reaches a retaining position, the locking element returns due to its self-locking Property from the release position to its rest position, in which it assumes its locking function and can no longer be moved back over the stop without actively releasing the lock.

In one embodiment of the disclosed turning device, the stop is formed in the housing, in particular on an inner side of the housing, and the locking element is connected to the actuating part. The locking element can thus be arranged on an outer side of the actuating part. This advantageously enables an actuation of a movable locking element in a direction from the outside to the inside, i.e. from an outer side of the self-inking stamp.

In this embodiment, a bearing receptacle can optionally be arranged in the actuating part for the turning axis in a direction parallel to the actuating direction between the locking element and an impression side of the housing. This arrangement of the bearing receptacle relative to the locking element makes it possible to achieve the above-described arrangement of the retaining position relative to the coloring position, with the associated advantages.

The locking element can, for example, be made essentially of plastic and preferably supported on a metal support in the locking direction. The locking element can, for example, be made in one piece with a plastic component of the actuating part. The desired mobility and springiness can be achieved by the expert through the shape and dimensions of the locking element.

The disclosure also relates to a self-inking stamp with a turning device according to one of the variants described above, with an impression tool accommodated therein and with a turning axis running through the turning device and the impression tool. The turning device also has the above-mentioned advantages as part of an assembled and, for example, operational self-inking stamp as soon as the impression tool is to be changed on the self-inking stamp and, for example, the turning axis is removed for this purpose.

Finally, the disclosure also relates to a method for disassembling a turning device according to one of the variants described above, wherein in the context of this method the lock is released by a force applied transversely to the direction of actuation and when the lock is released the actuating part is released from the housing parallel to the direction of actuation. In the prior art, releasing a A lock with a force applied transversely to the direction of actuation is not provided because any resistance provided instead of a lock can be overcome by a correspondingly increased force parallel to the direction of actuation or any self-releasing lock can be overcome by omitting to actuate the lock.

The invention is explained in more detail below using particularly preferred embodiments, to which it is not intended to be limited, and with reference to the drawings. The drawings show in detail:

Fig. i is a vertical section of a self-inking stamp with a turning device, an impression tool and a turning axis, in an inking position;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the turning device according to Fig. 1 with the turning axis removed and without the impression tool, in a retaining position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of detail III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of detail IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the actuating part of the turning device according to Figures 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the actuating part according to Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional front view of the self-inking stamp according to Fig. 1 in an impression position; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional front view according to Fig. 7, with opened securing elements and a partially removed turning axle.

Fig. 1 shows a self-inking stamp 1 with a turning device 2. The turning device 2 comprises a housing 3 and an actuating part 4. The actuating part 4 is connected to the housing 3 and can be moved relative to the housing 3. The actuating part 4 is designed to support and carry a turning axis 5 for an impression tool 6. The turning axis 5 is received and supported at both of its ends in a bearing receptacle 7 of the actuating part 4.

The impression tool 6 is penetrated by the turning axis 5 and is mounted so that it can rotate about its longitudinal axis. This means that the turning axis 5 runs through the turning device 2 and the impression tool 6. A pad container 8 with an ink pad 9 is accommodated in the housing 3. In the inking position shown in Fig. 1, a cliché of the impression tool 6 is pressed into the ink pad 9 and is thus wetted with stamp ink. For this purpose, the actuating part 4 is pre-tensioned by means of a stamp spring 10 between the housing 3 and the actuating part 4 in the direction against an actuating direction 11 (upwards in Fig. 1). The stamp spring 10 is for Return of the self-inking stamp i from an impression position (not shown) to an inking position. In the inking position shown in Fig. i, there is no risk of the actuating part 4 being detached from the housing 3 because the turning axis 5 passes through the actuating part and the housing 3 and thus connects them and because the spring force of the stamp spring 10 is diverted from the actuating part 4 via the turning axis 5, the impression tool 6, the stamp pad 9, and the stamp pad container 8 back to the housing 3. To operate the self-inking stamp 1, it is placed with an imprint side 12 on a substrate to be printed and then by exerting force on the actuating part 4 in the direction of the actuation direction 11 against the spring force of the stamp spring 10, the actuating part 4 is moved together with the imprint tool 6 in the direction of the imprint side 12, whereby the imprint tool 6 is turned and finally the colored cliché is pressed against the substrate (corresponds to the imprint position). During the entire process, the self-inking stamp 1 can be held by the handle 13 of the actuating part 4.

If the impression tool 6 is to be replaced on such a stamp, the turning axis 5 can be removed from the side. For this purpose, openings 14, 15 can be provided and accessible in at least one side wall of the housing 3 or covers 16, 17 of such openings 14, 15 can be temporarily opened. The turning axis 5 can then be pushed or pulled in the direction of its longitudinal axis out of the bearing receptacles 7 of the actuating part 4. This also removes the turning axis 5 from the impression tool 6, so that the impression tool 6 is then released from the housing 3. This state, with the turning axis removed and without the impression tool, is shown in Fig. 2. To mount a different impression tool, it must be reinserted into the housing 3 and then the turning axis 5 must be inserted through the housing and the actuating part 4 and the new impression tool.

Fig. 2 shows a retaining position of the turning device 2. In this case, a release of the actuating part 4 from the housing 3 is blocked by a retaining device 19 designed as two locks 18. The retaining device 19 is self-locking.

The structure and arrangement of the retaining device in the retaining position is shown enlarged in Fig. 4. For comparison, the same section in the dyeing position is also shown enlarged in Fig. 3. The retaining device has a stop 20 and a retaining element 21 which rests against the stop 20 in a retaining position. The retaining element 21 is designed as a self-locking locking element 22. The locking element 22 takes up in the retaining position (Fig. 2 and 4) a spring force of a piston spring 10. The locking element 22 is movable transversely to the locking direction and is spring-mounted.

In the embodiment shown, the locking element is arranged on a thin, curved tab 23. The tab 23 extends in a recess in the actuating part 4, first against the actuating direction 11 and is then bent outwards by 90°, so that the locking element 22 engages at a right angle under the stop 20. The locking element 22 is connected to the actuating part 4 via the tab 23. The tab 23 is essentially made of plastic and is deformable due to its thickness and material and can basically be bent further in the direction of its bend or bent more straight against the bend. However, the underside of the tab 23 rests on a support 24. The support 24 prevents the tab 23 from bending in the actuation direction 11. The support 24 is the lower edge of an opening 25 in a metal frame 26, which forms part of the actuation part 4, as can be seen in more detail in Figures 5 and 6. The support 24 is thus made of metal.

The stop 20 is formed in the housing 3, more precisely on an inner side 27 of the housing 3. The actuating part 4 can have two legs 28, each of which is received and guided in a channel 29 provided for this purpose in the housing 3. The retaining device can be formed from a stop 20 on an inner wall in each of the two channels 29 and corresponding retaining elements 21 on each of the two legs 28. Each leg 28 has its own metal frame 26. The metal frames 26 can be manufactured as sheet metal parts and snapped onto a plastic core 30 of the actuating part 4 during assembly (see Fig. 6).

When assembling the turning device 2, the legs 28 of the actuating part 4 are inserted into the channels 29 of the housing 3. To ensure that the retaining element 21 does not block this process, a bevel 33 is provided on the outer edge of a rear side 32 opposite the locking surface 31 of the locking elements 22. When inserted, this bevel 33 can slide off a corresponding bevel 34 at the entrance to the channel 29 and lift/press the corresponding locking element 22 away from the support 24 into a release position. The raised locking element 22 slides along the inside 35 of the channel 29 until it snaps into place under the stop 20. To release the actuating part 4 from the housing 3, the locking element can be lifted manually, e.g. with a pointed object, and at the same time pulled over the stop 20, after which it is held in the channel by the inside 35. This procedure must be repeated for both legs 28. As can be seen from a comparison of Figures 1 and 3, which show the dyeing position, and Figures 2 and 4, which show the retaining position, the actuating part 4 is further away from the impression position in the retaining position than in the dyeing position. This means that in the retaining position the actuating part is further "up" than in the dyeing position. In order to achieve this relative arrangement of the two positions, the bearing receptacles 7 in the actuating part 4 for the turning axis 5 are arranged in a direction parallel to the actuating direction 11 between the locking element 22 and an impression side 12 of the housing 3.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the removal of the turning axis 5 from the turning device 2 in an impression position. In this case, a movable securing element 36 formed by the cover 16 is moved on at least one side of the housing 3 from a securing position covering the turning axis 5 (see Fig. 7) into a release position (see Fig. 8) allowing access to the turning axis 5. This temporarily opens and releases the opening 14. The turning axis 5 can then slide out of the bearing receptacles 7 parallel to its longitudinal direction through the opening 14. As soon as the turning axis 5 is completely removed from the actuating part 4 and the housing 3, the impression tool 6 is no longer held in the housing 3 and can be removed from the turning device 2. If the handle 13 is then released, the actuating part 4 moves under the action of the stamp spring 10 into the retaining position shown and described in connection with Fig. 2.

Claims

claims 1. Turning device (2) for a self-inking stamp (1), comprising a housing (3) and an actuating part (4), wherein the actuating part (4) is connected to the housing (3) and is displaceable relative to the housing (3), wherein the actuating part (4) is designed to support and carry along a turning axis (5) for an impression tool (6), wherein the turning device (2) has a retaining device (21) which, when the turning axis (5) is removed from the actuating part (4), makes it difficult for the actuating part (4) to be released from the housing (3), characterized in that the retaining device (21) is designed as a lock, wherein the lock is self-locking. 2. Turning device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining device (21) has a stop (20) and a retaining element (21) resting against the stop (20) in a retaining position, wherein the retaining element (21) is designed as a self-locking locking element (22). 3. Turning device (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking element (22) in the retaining position absorbs a spring force of a stamp spring (10), wherein the stamp spring (10) is arranged between the housing (3) and the actuating part (4) and is designed to return the self-inking stamp (1) from an impression position to an inking position. 4. Turning device (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the actuating part (4) is further away from the impression position in the retaining position than in the coloring position. 5. Turning device (2) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the locking element (22) is mounted so as to be movable transversely to the locking direction. 6. Turning device (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking element (22) is spring-mounted. 7. Turning device (2) according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the stop (20) is formed in the housing (3) and that the locking element (22) is connected to the actuating part (4). 8. Turning device (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that the Stop (20) is formed on an inner side (35) of the housing (3). 9. Turning device (2) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a bearing receptacle (7) in the actuating part (4) for the turning axis (5) is arranged in a direction parallel to the actuating direction (11) between the locking element (22) and an impression side (12) of the housing (3). 10. Turning device (2) according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the locking element (22) is made essentially of plastic. 11. Turning device (2) according to claim 10, characterized in that the locking element (22) is supported on a support (24) made of metal in the locking direction. 12. Self-inking stamp (1) with a turning device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 11, with an impression tool (6) received therein and with a turning axis (5) running through the turning device (2) and the impression tool (6). 13. Method for dismantling a turning device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the lock is released by a force applied transversely to the actuation direction (11) and when the lock is released, the actuation part (4) is released from the housing (3) parallel to the actuation direction (11).