Apparatus for marking a moving hot coil

Claim 1

Apparatus for marking objects moving along a conveyor comprising: a parallelogram linkage including a first link adjacent said conveyor, a second link having one end pivotally connected to one end of said first link, means pivotally mounting the second end of said second link at a point spaced from said conveyor, and a third link having one end pivotally connected to the other end of said first link, means pivotally mounting the second end of said third link at a point spaced from said conveyor, said second and third links being of equal length and parallel to one another, the distance between said pivot means for the second and third links being equal to the distance between the pivots of said first link; a marking device mounted on said first link adapted to mark said objects on said conveyor; means for moving said parallelogram linkage about said pivot means to position said first link with respect to said conveyor; means for detecting an object on said conveyor approaching said marking device; and means operable by said detecting means for operating said parallelogram linkage moving means to position said first link and marking device in operative position to mark said object; said detecting means including a fourth link having one end adjacent the conveyor and adapted to contact an object thereon, means pivotally mounting the second of said fourth link at a point spaced from said conveyor in alignment with the pivot supports for the second and third links; and the means operable by said detecting means including a pin mounted on said fourth link intermediate the ends thereof, a fifth link pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the parallel link on the object approach side of said linkage, said fifth link having a slot therein for receiving said pin, and a control mounted on said fifth link operable by movement of said pin to cause movement of said first link to operable position.