Marking-measuring devices

Claim 2

A printing device comprising: a housing serving also as a handle, a pressure roller mounted at one end of said housing, a printing element movably mounted on said pressure roller for movement outwardly into an operational position and inwardly to a nonoperational position, actuating means cooperating with said printing element, engageable with said printing element and capable of moving said printing element into operational and nonoperational positions, control means for controlling said actuating means upon the completion of multiple revolutions of said pressure roller.

Claim 3

A printing device as described in claim 1 wherein said actuating means moves said printing element into an operational position after four revolutions of said pressure roller.

Claim 4

A portable, hand-operated, marking-measuring tool for marking an article in exactly equidistant linear segments comprising: a housing serving in part as a handle, at least one pressure roller haVing a periphery adapted to engage an article, means to mount said pressure roller in said housing, said pressure roller including a coaxial sprocket, an idler sprocket mounted in said housing, at least one printing element within said pressure roller and having a printing surface radially inward of said periphery so as to be in an ''''off'''' position, means to provide ink for said printing element, a programmed, nonextensible, endless member entrained about said sprockets and having cam members spaced at equal distances so as to contact said printing element and move said printing element to an ''''on'''' printing position slightly beyond the periphery of said pressure roller after multiple revolutions of said pressure roller.

Claim 5

A portable, hand-operated, marking-measuring tool for marking an article in exactly equidistant linear segments comprising: a housing serving in part as a handle, at least one pressure roller haVing a periphery adapted to engage an article, means to mount said pressure roller in said housing, said pressure roller including a coaxial sprocket, an idler sprocket mounted in said housing, at least one printing element within said pressure roller and having a printing surface radially inward of said periphery so as to be in an ''''off'''' position, means to provide ink for said printing element, a programmed, nonextensible, endless member entrained about said sprockets and having cam members spaced at equal distances so as to contact said printing element and move said printing element to an ''''on'''' printing position slightly beyond the periphery of said pressure roller after multiple revolutions of said pressure roller.

Claim 6

A device or tool as described in claim 3 in which there are two parallel and separately operable printing elements in said pressure roller on opposite sides of said pressure roller.

Claim 7

A portable, hand-operated, marking-measuring device comprising: a frame serving in part as a handle, at least one pressure roller at one end of said frame, at least one printing element movably mounted in said pressure roller for movement outwardly into an operational position and inwardly to a nonoperational position, actuating means cooperating with said printing element for moving said printing element into operational and nonoperational positions, programming means for controlling said actuating means so as to mark a surface in equal linear segments, each of said segments having a length greater than the circumference of said pressure roller.

Claim 8

A portable, hand-operated, marking-measuring device comprising: a frame serving in part as a handle, at least one pressure roller at one end of said frame, at least one printing element movably mounted in said pressure roller for movement outwardly into an operational position and inwardly to a nonoperational position, actuating means cooperating with said printing element for moving said printing element into operational and nonoperational positions, programming means for controlling said actuating means so as to mark a surface in equal linear segments, each of said segments having a length greater than the circumference of said pressure roller.

Claim 9

A printing device comprising: a housing, a handle formed from one end of said housing, a pressure roller mounted at the opposite end of said housing, an idler roller mounted within said handle, a flexible, nonextensible, endless member cooperating with said pressure roller and with said idler roller, multiple printing elements movably mounted in said pressure roller for movement outwardly into an operational position and inwardly to a nonoperational position, cam means positioned on said flexible, nonextensible, endless member for moving said printing elements into operational positions, compression springs positioned in said pressure roller for moving said printing elements into nonoperational positions.

Claim 10

A printing device comprising: a housing, a handle formed from one end of said housing, a pressure roller mounted at the opposite end of said housing, an idler roller mounted within said handle, a flexible, nonextensible, endless member cooperating with said pressure roller and with said idler roller, multiple printing elements movably mounted in said pressure roller for movement outwardly into an operational position and inwardly to a nonoperational position, cam means positioned on said flexible, nonextensible, endless member for moving said printing elements into operational positions, compression springs positioned in said pressure roller for moving said printing elements into nonoperational positions.

Claim 11

A printing device as described in claim 6 wherein the flexible nonextensible, endless member is a Mobius belt.

Claim 12

A printing device as described in claim 6 wherein one printing element marks a surface in equidistant segments of 12 inches in length while the other printing element simultaneously marks a surface in equidistant segments of 16 inches in length using different indicia.

Claim 13

A printing device comprising, a housing, a first axle positioned at one end of said housing, a second axle positioned at the other end of said housing, a pressure roller rotatably mounted on the first axle, said pressure roller having spaced friction elements on its periphery, an idler roller rotatably mounted on the second axle, multiple printing elements movably mounted in said pressure roller for movement outwardly between said friction elements into an operational position and inwardly to a nonoperational position, a flexible, nonextensible, endless member having cam means, said member cooperating with said pressure roller and said idler roller whereby said cam means move said printing elements into operational positions, compression springs positioned in said pressure roller for moving said printing elements into nonoperational positions.

Claim 14

A printing device comprising, a housing, a first axle positioned at one end of said housing, a second axle positioned at the other end of said housing, a pressure roller rotatably mounted on the first axle, said pressure roller having spaced friction elements on its periphery, an idler roller rotatably mounted on the second axle, multiple printing elements movably mounted in said pressure roller for movement outwardly between said friction elements into an operational position and inwardly to a nonoperational position, a flexible, nonextensible, endless member having cam means, said member cooperating with said pressure roller and said idler roller whereby said cam means move said printing elements into operational positions, compression springs positioned in said pressure roller for moving said printing elements into nonoperational positions.

Claim 15

A printing device as described in claim 9 wherein said housing is elongated to form a handle.

Claim 16

A printing device as described in claim 9, having a first printing element for marking a surface in equidistant segments, a second printing element for also marking a surface in equidistant segments, said device further characTerized by the fact that the segments of said first printing element are of greater length than the segments of said second printing element.

Claim 17

A printing device as described in claim 9 wherein the flexible, nonextensible endless member is a Mobius belt.

Claim 18

A printing device comprising: a housing, a handle formed from one end of said housing, a pressure roller mounted at the opposite end of said housing, an idler roller mounted within said handle, first and second printing elements for printing different indicia, mounted in said pressure roller for movement outwardly into operational positions and inwardly to nonoperational positions, first and second flexible, nonextensible Mobius belts entrained about said pressure roller and said idler roller, compression springs positioned in said pressure roller for moving said printing elements into nonoperational positions, cam means positioned on the said first Mobius belt for moving the said first printing element, cam means positioned on the said first Mobius belt for moving the said first printing element, cam means positioned on the said second Mobius belt for moving the said second printing element.

Claim 19

A printing device comprising: a housing, a handle formed from one end of said housing, a pressure roller mounted at the opposite end of said housing, an idler roller mounted within said handle, first and second printing elements for printing different indicia, mounted in said pressure roller for movement outwardly into operational positions and inwardly to nonoperational positions, first and second flexible, nonextensible Mobius belts entrained about said pressure roller and said idler roller, compression springs positioned in said pressure roller for moving said printing elements into nonoperational positions, cam means positioned on the said first Mobius belt for moving the said first printing element, cam means positioned on the said first Mobius belt for moving the said first printing element, cam means positioned on the said second Mobius belt for moving the said second printing element.

Claim 20

A printing device as described in claim 13 wherein: said idler roller includes two sprockets, said pressure roller includes two sprockets also, said Mobius belts each has equidistant holes for receiving the teeth of said sprockets, each of said belts has a number of holes equal to a multiple of the number of teeth of each of said sprockets of said pressure roller minus one.

Claim 21

A marking-measuring device comprising: a housing capable of serving in part as a handle, a pressure roller mounted at one end of said housing, at least one printing element movably mounted on said pressure roller for movement outwardly into an operational position and inwardly to a nonoperational position, mechanical actuating means for moving said printing element into operational and nonoperational positions, mechanical control means for controlling said mechanical actuating means only upon the completion of every two revolutions of said pressure roller.

Claim 22

A marking-measuring device comprising: a housing capable of serving in part as a handle, a pressure roller mounted at one end of said housing, at least one printing element movably mounted on said pressure roller for movement outwardly into an operational position and inwardly to a nonoperational position, mechanical actuating means for moving said printing element into operational and nonoperational positions, mechanical control means for controlling said mechanical actuating means only upon the completion of every two revolutions of said pressure roller.

Claim 23

A marking-measuring device as described in claim 15 wherein the mechanical control means includes means for moving said printing element into operational position only after every four revolutions of said pressure roller.

Claim 24

A portable, hand-operated, marking-measuring device comprising: a frame serving in part as a handle, a pressure roller mounted at one end of said frame, at least one printing element movably mounted in said pressure roller for movement outwardly into an operational position and inwardly to a nonoperational position, actuating means including cam means within said pressure roller cooperating with said printing element for moving said printing element into an operational position, spring means within said pressure roller cooperating with said printing element for moving said printing element into a nonoperational position, a movable button extending through said pressure roller and cooperating with said cam means and said frame, programming means for controlling said actuating means so as to mark a surface in equal linear segments, each of said segments having a length greater than the circumference of said pressure roller.

Claim 25

A portable, hand-operated, marking-measuring device comprising: a frame serving in part as a handle, a pressure roller mounted at one end of said frame, at least one printing element movably mounted in said pressure roller for movement outwardly into an operational position and inwardly to a nonoperational position, actuating means including cam means within said pressure roller cooperating with said printing element for moving said printing element into an operational position, spring means within said pressure roller cooperating with said printing element for moving said printing element into a nonoperational position, a movable button extending through said pressure roller and cooperating with said cam means and said frame, programming means for controlling said actuating means so as to mark a surface in equal linear segments, each of said segments having a length greater than the circumference of said pressure roller.

Claim 26

A portable, hand-operated, marking-measuring device as claimed in claim 17 wherein said programming means enables marking a surface in equal linear segments of 12 inches.

Claim 27

A portable, hand-operated, marking-measuring device as claimed in claim 17 wherein said programming means enables marking a surface in equal linear segments of 16 inches.

Claim 28

A marking-measuring device comprising, a housing serving also as a handle, a pressure roller mounted at one end of said housing for measuring distances, a marking element cooperating with said pressure roller, a markinG substance used by said marking element, mechanical actuating means cooperating with said marking element and said pressure roller and said housing for moving said marking element into operational and nonoperational positions, control means including multiple gears for controlling said mechanical actuating means so as to mark a surface in equal linear segments, each of said segments having a length greater than the circumference of said pressure roller.

Claim 29

A marking-measuring device comprising, a housing serving also as a handle, a pressure roller mounted at one end of said housing for measuring distances, a marking element cooperating with said pressure roller, a markinG substance used by said marking element, mechanical actuating means cooperating with said marking element and said pressure roller and said housing for moving said marking element into operational and nonoperational positions, control means including multiple gears for controlling said mechanical actuating means so as to mark a surface in equal linear segments, each of said segments having a length greater than the circumference of said pressure roller.

Claim 30

A printing device comprising, a housing serving also as a handle, a pressure roller mounted at one end of said housing for measuring distances, a marking element having a fixed relationship with said pressure roller, actuating means including energy means for moving said marking element, programming means including switching means for controlling said actuating means so as to mark a surface in equal linear segments, each of said segments having a length greater than the circumference of said pressure roller.

Claim 31

A printing device comprising, a housing serving also as a handle, a pressure roller mounted at one end of said housing for measuring distances, a marking element having a fixed relationship with said pressure roller, actuating means including energy means for moving said marking element, programming means including switching means for controlling said actuating means so as to mark a surface in equal linear segments, each of said segments having a length greater than the circumference of said pressure roller.

Claim 32

A portable, hand-operated, marking-measuring tool for marking an article in exactly equidistant linear segments comprising, a housing, at least one pressure roller having a periphery adapted to engage an article, means to mount said pressure roller in said housing, a marking element within said pressure roller, a marking substance used by said marking element, actuating means including a source of electric energy for moving said marking element into operational and nonoperational positions, control means including dialing means for controlling said actuating means for marking an article in exclusively 12-inch segments, or exclusively 16-inch segments, or exclusively 24-inch segments, or exclusively 48-inch segments.

Claim 33

A portable, hand-operated, marking-measuring tool for marking an article in exactly equidistant linear segments comprising, a housing, at least one pressure roller having a periphery adapted to engage an article, means to mount said pressure roller in said housing, a marking element within said pressure roller, a marking substance used by said marking element, actuating means including a source of electric energy for moving said marking element into operational and nonoperational positions, control means including dialing means for controlling said actuating means for marking an article in exclusively 12-inch segments, or exclusively 16-inch segments, or exclusively 24-inch segments, or exclusively 48-inch segments.

Claim 34

A printing device comprising: a housing, a pressure roller mounted in said housing, a printing element movably mounted in relationship to said pressure roller, actuating means for moving said printing element, programming control means for controlling the movement of said printing element so as to mark a surface in equal linear segments, each of said segments having a length greater than the circumference of said pressure roller, said control means including a permanent magnet mounted in said pressure roller for counting the revolutions of said pressure roller, said control means also including a dry reed relay mounted in said housing and activated by said permanent magnet. said control means also including a twelve-position rotary switch connected to said dry reed relay, said control means also including a source of energy. the circumference of said pressure roller.

Claim 35

A printing device comprising: a housing, a pressure roller mounted in said housing, a printing element movably mounted in relationship to said pressure roller, actuating means for moving said printing element, programming control means for controlling the movement of said printing element so as to mark a surface in equal linear segments, each of said segments having a length greater than the circumference of said pressure roller, said control means including a permanent magnet mounted in said pressure roller for counting the revolutions of said pressure roller, said control means also including a dry reed relay mounted in said housing and activated by said permanent magnet. said control means also including a twelve-position rotary switch connected to said dry reed relay, said control means also including a source of energy. the circumference of said pressure roller.

Claim 36

A printing device comprising, a housing, a pressure roller mounted in said housing, a printing element movably mounted in relationship to said pressure roller for movement to operational and nonoperational positions, actuating means cooperating with said printing element for moving said printing element into operational and nonoperational positions, control means for controlling said actuating means upon the completion of multiple revolutions of said pressure roller, said control means including multiple programs, said control means also including a homing circuit for preparing said device for printing at the beginning of a particular program.

Claim 37

A printing device comprising, a housing, a pressure roller mounted in said housing, a printing element movably mounted in relationship to said pressure roller for movement to operational and nonoperational positions, actuating means cooperating with said printing element for moving said printing element into operational and nonoperational positions, control means for controlling said actuating means upon the completion of multiple revolutions of said pressure roller, said control means including multiple programs, said control means also including a homing circuit for preparing said device for printing at the beginning of a particular program.

Claim 38

A printing device as described in claim 24 wherein said pressure roller has a circumference of 8 inches, and wherein said control means includes multiple programs for placing marks on a surface only every 16 inches, or only every 24 inches, or only every 48 inches.

Claim 39

A printing device as described in claim 24 wherein said pressure roller has a circumference of 4 inches, and wherein said control means includes multiple programs for placing marks on a surface only every 12 inches or only every 16 inches or only every 24 inches or only every 48 inches.