US3565034A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Processing apparatus for objects
Assignee: Satake USA Inc
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Filing: 1968-10-25
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Granted: 1971-02-23
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Expires: 1988-10-25
Abstract
Abstract Cylindrical cans each with one closed and one open end are metered one by one between a pair of differentially corotating driving wheels having resilient rims that grasp each can by the closed end and spin it against a rotating printing wheel so as to imprint a band of ink completely around the can; and the can is then discharged downwardly onto a ramp guide on which it rolls in the direction of spin, away from and out of the apparatus. The ramp guide includes levers activated by the can to inhibit metering of the cans into the apparatus if there is a stoppage and backing up of the can flow; and to meter a predetermined amount of ink to the printing wheel on passage of each can, so that just the right amount of ink is printed on, regardless of the rate of flow of the cans.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas D Birchall
- 👤 Johnnie L Powell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:59
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41F; B41F17/00; B41F17/08; B41F17/14; B41F17/20; B41F17/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A processing apparatus for cans each having at least one closed end presenting an exterior beaded rim at said closed end, comprising: an inked printing wheel for printing a circumferential marking band upon each can; a pair of spaced-apart differential-speed corotating driving wheels mounted in the same plane and in axial parallelism with said printing wheel axes but axially displaced from the printing wheel so as to engage opposite sides of each can and rotate each can for at least one full rotation in contact with said printing wheel while driving said can past said printing wheel; feeding means including a plurality of guide members arranged to guide said cans to and between said driving wheels with said beaded rim portion in the plane thereof, so that said cans are not substantially deformed when engaged by said driving wheels; and said driving wheels being each provided with a resilient frictional rim portion so as to grippingly engage and drive only said beaded rim portion of each can therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A processing apparatus for cans each having at least one closed end presenting an exterior beaded rim at said closed end, comprising: an inked printing wheel for printing a circumferential marking band upon each can; a pair of spaced-apart differential-speed corotating driving wheels mounted in the same plane and in axial parallelism with said printing wheel axes but axially displaced from the printing wheel so as to engage opposite sides of each can and rotate each can for at least one full rotation in contact with said printing wheel while driving said can past said printing wheel; feeding means including a plurality of guide members arranged to guide said cans to and between said driving wheels with said beaded rim portion in the plane thereof, so that said cans are not substantially deformed when engaged by said driving wheels; and said driving wheels being each provided with a resilient frictional rim portion so as to grippingly engage and drive only said beaded rim portion of each can therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein: each of said driving wheels is also provided with a beveled flange portion extending radially beyond said resilient rim portion thereof and axially adjacent thereto so as to receive and guide a closed end of each can with said beaded rim portion thereof in the plane of said driving wheels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein there is also provided: at least one resilient-rimmed backup wheel mounted for rotation in axial parallelism with and generally opposite said printing wheel so as to press each can firmly against said printing wheel in passage through said processing station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein: more than one printing wheel is employed, but only one backup wheel; and said backup wheel is axially positioned between the printing wheels and the end of the can that is remote from said driving wheels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein: at least said pRinting wheel is provided with a resilient printing rim portion having elongated axial slots formed therein, each slot lying in a chordal plane of said printing wheel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein: said backup wheel is also provided with a resilient rim portion having elongated axial slots formed therein, each slot lying in a chordal plane of said backup wheel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein: said resilient printing rim portion of said printing wheel is formed with a body portion and a circumferential printing flange of predetermined axial thickness corresponding with the width of printing mark desired, said body portion containing said slots and being of substantially greater axial thickness than said printing flange so as to inhibit axial deflection of said printing rim under pressure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein: a pair of drive shafts are provided, one being affixed to each of said drive wheels; said printing wheel being mounted on and affixed to one of said drive shafts; and said backup wheel being mounted on the other of said drive shafts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
142 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said objects are right-circular-cylindrical cans, and wherein: said apparatus is arranged with the axes of said drive wheels in the same horizontal plane and with feeding means disposed to feed said cans to said drive wheels from above, while said receiving means is disposed below said drive wheels to receive said cans as they pass downwardly between and from said drive wheel; said receiving means includes ramp guide means for conducting said cans in axially rolling motion downwardly and laterally beneath one of said drive wheels and out of said apparatus; and the lateral direction of said ramp guide means being selected so that the natural direction of roll of said cans thereon is the same as the direction of spin that is imparted to said cans by said differentially rotating drive wheels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein: said feeding means is provided with metering means coupled to said printing wheel drive shaft for metering one can to said drive wheels upon each revolution of said printing wheel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
109 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein: said ramp guide means includes a pivoting guide member counterweighted toward an upper position and responsive to the weight of a can thereon to pivot toward a lower position; said pivoting guide member being coupled to said metering means to inhibit the operation of said metering means when said pivoting guide member is in said lower position thereof; and whereby upon a stoppage and accumulation of cans moving out of said apparatus, at least one of said cans eventually comes to rest on said pivoting guide member and stops the flow of cans into said apparatus from said feeding means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said objects are right-circular-cylindrical cans, and wherein said apparatus also includes: ink supply means for said inked printing wheel; means responsive to the passage of each can through said apparatus to meter a predetermined amount of ink from said ink supply means to said printing wheel; and whereby the mark is printed on each can with just the right amount of ink, regardless of the rate of flow of said cans.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein: said ink metering means includes a pivoting lever mounted for engagement by each can as said can is driven between and from said drive wheels; and said ink supply means includes an ink reservoir and a pump means coupled to said lever for pumping actuation thereby to pump said predetermined amount of ink to said printing wheel upon the passage of each can.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
170 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said pump means includes: a conduit extending in an upstream to downstream dIrection from near the bottom of said ink reservoir and toward said printing wheel, a section of said conduit being formed of compressible resilient tubing; an anvil member positioned adjacent said resilient section of said conduit; check valve means positioned in said conduit at both the upstream and downstream ends of said resilient section for permitting flow of ink only in said upstream to downstream direction toward said printing wheel; a pinching element coupled to said lever for pinching said resilient section against said anvil element upon each actuation of said lever so as to squeeze the ink therein in said upstream to downstream direction through the downstream check valve means; and the release of said lever upon passage of a can permitting expansion of said resilient section of said conduit to draw more ink from said reservoir, through the upstream check valve means, and into said resilient section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 14, and also including: a felt ink wheel positioned in tangential engagement with said printing wheel and at the downstream end of said conduit, for receiving ink therefrom and smoothly applying it to said printing wheel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
66 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein: a coupling is provided in said conduit downstream from said downstream check valve, for uncoupling and removing said reservoir and a portion of said conduit from said apparatus; and said conduit also being provided with a closure clamp adjacent to and upstream from said coupling for preventing the drying of said ink when said coupling is uncoupled.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-22 | 1974-08-24 | 1975-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-22 | 1978-08-24 | 1979-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-22 | 1982-08-24 | 1983-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |