Marking device

Claim 1

A device for imprinting characters on tape; said device comprising a marking roll having selected characters defining at least a portion of its peripheral surface and in engagement with the tape, drive means engaging the tape and being powered by movement of the tape, said drive means comprising a drive roll mounted for rotation about a first fixed axis, a pressure roll engaging the tape at the drive roll and mounted on a pressure arm swingable about a second fixed axis, means for urging the drive and pressure rolls toward one another so that the tape is compressed therebetween and urged against the peripheral surface of the drive roll so that the tape rotates the drive roll whereby the linear velocity at the peripheral surface of the drive roll is equal to the velocity of the tape, conneCting means interconnecting the drive roll and marking roll for rotating the marking roll such that the peripheries of the two rolls have substantially the same linear velocity, a backup roll mounted for rotation about the second fixed axis and engaging the tape at the marking roll, said backup and marking rolls being biased together so that the tape is compressed therebetween, the characters on the marking roll have substantially the same linear velocity as the linear velocity of the tape, whereby a clear printed impression of the characters will be left on the tape.

Claim 2

A device for imprinting characters on tape; said device comprising a marking roll having selected characters defining at least a portion of its peripheral surface and in engagement with the tape, drive means engaging the tape and being powered by movement of the tape, said drive means comprising a drive roll mounted for rotation about a first fixed axis, a pressure roll engaging the tape at the drive roll and mounted on a pressure arm swingable about a second fixed axis, means for urging the drive and pressure rolls toward one another so that the tape is compressed therebetween and urged against the peripheral surface of the drive roll so that the tape rotates the drive roll whereby the linear velocity at the peripheral surface of the drive roll is equal to the velocity of the tape, conneCting means interconnecting the drive roll and marking roll for rotating the marking roll such that the peripheries of the two rolls have substantially the same linear velocity, a backup roll mounted for rotation about the second fixed axis and engaging the tape at the marking roll, said backup and marking rolls being biased together so that the tape is compressed therebetween, the characters on the marking roll have substantially the same linear velocity as the linear velocity of the tape, whereby a clear printed impression of the characters will be left on the tape.

Claim 4

A device for imprinting characters on tape having a stiffening wire embedded therein said tape being relatively wide as compared to the wire embedded therein, said device comprising a marking roll having selected characters defining at least a portion of its peripheral surface and in engagement with the tape, and drive means engaging the tape and being powered by movement of the tape, said drive means comprising a drive roll, a pressure roll engaging the tape at the drive roll, means for urging the drive and pressure rolls toward one another so that the tape is compressed therebetween and urged against is peripheral surface of the drive roll so that the tape rotates the drive roll whereby the linear velocity at the peripheral surface of the drive roll is equal to the velocity of the tape, elastic belt connecting means interconnecting the drive roll and marking roll for rotating the marking roll such that the peripheries of the two rolls have substantially the same linear velocity, and backup roll engaging the tape at the marking roll, said backup and marking rolls being biased together so that the tape is compressed therebetween, the characters on the marking roll have substantially the same linear velocity as the linear velocity of the tape, whereby a clear printed impression of the characters will be left on the tape said pressure roll and backup roll being substantially flat across the entire width of the outer periphery for supporting said tape and having a peripheral groove relatively small in width compared to the width of the roll to accommodate the wire embedded in the tape.

Claim 5

A device for imprinting characters on tape having a stiffening wire embedded therein said tape being relatively wide as compared to the wire embedded therein, said device comprising a marking roll having selected characters defining at least a portion of its peripheral surface and in engagement with the tape, and drive means engaging the tape and being powered by movement of the tape, said drive means comprising a drive roll, a pressure roll engaging the tape at the drive roll, means for urging the drive and pressure rolls toward one another so that the tape is compressed therebetween and urged against is peripheral surface of the drive roll so that the tape rotates the drive roll whereby the linear velocity at the peripheral surface of the drive roll is equal to the velocity of the tape, elastic belt connecting means interconnecting the drive roll and marking roll for rotating the marking roll such that the peripheries of the two rolls have substantially the same linear velocity, and backup roll engaging the tape at the marking roll, said backup and marking rolls being biased together so that the tape is compressed therebetween, the characters on the marking roll have substantially the same linear velocity as the linear velocity of the tape, whereby a clear printed impression of the characters will be left on the tape said pressure roll and backup roll being substantially flat across the entire width of the outer periphery for supporting said tape and having a peripheral groove relatively small in width compared to the width of the roll to accommodate the wire embedded in the tape.

Claim 6

A device for imprinting characters on tape; said device comprising a marking roll having selected characters defining at least a portion of its peripheral surface and in engagement with the tape, drive means engaging the tape and being powered by movement of the tape, said drive means comprising a drive roll, a pressure roll engaging the tape at the drive roll, means for urging the drive and pressure rolls toward one another so that the tape is compressed therebetween and urged against the peripheral surface of the drive roll so that the tape rotates the drive roll whereby the linear velocity at the peripheral surface of the drive roll is equal to the velocity of the tape, the tape engaging surfaces of the drive and pressure rolls being knurled so that the tape is at least partly embedded in the knurls to provide a positive nonslipping drive when subjected to external incremental pulls, connecting means interonnecting the drive roll and marking roll for rotating the marking roll such that the peripheries of the two rolls have substantially the same linear velocity, and a backup roll engaging the tape at the marking roll, said backup and marking rolls being biased together so that the tape is compressed therebetween, the characters on the marking toll have substantially the same linear velocity as the linear velocity of the tape, whereby a clear printed impression of the characters will be left on the tape, the drive and marking rolls being substantially aligned so that the tape passes between the rolls in a substantially straight path, the pressure roll and the backup roll being mountEd on a movable carriage having guide means for maintaining the marking roll in alignment with the drive roll and for restraining the tape against lateral movement off the drive and marking rolls.

Claim 7

A device for imprinting characters on tape; said device comprising a marking roll having selected characters defining at least a portion of its peripheral surface and in engagement with the tape, drive means engaging the tape and being powered by movement of the tape, said drive means comprising a drive roll, a pressure roll engaging the tape at the drive roll, means for urging the drive and pressure rolls toward one another so that the tape is compressed therebetween and urged against the peripheral surface of the drive roll so that the tape rotates the drive roll whereby the linear velocity at the peripheral surface of the drive roll is equal to the velocity of the tape, the tape engaging surfaces of the drive and pressure rolls being knurled so that the tape is at least partly embedded in the knurls to provide a positive nonslipping drive when subjected to external incremental pulls, connecting means interonnecting the drive roll and marking roll for rotating the marking roll such that the peripheries of the two rolls have substantially the same linear velocity, and a backup roll engaging the tape at the marking roll, said backup and marking rolls being biased together so that the tape is compressed therebetween, the characters on the marking toll have substantially the same linear velocity as the linear velocity of the tape, whereby a clear printed impression of the characters will be left on the tape, the drive and marking rolls being substantially aligned so that the tape passes between the rolls in a substantially straight path, the pressure roll and the backup roll being mountEd on a movable carriage having guide means for maintaining the marking roll in alignment with the drive roll and for restraining the tape against lateral movement off the drive and marking rolls.

Claim 8

A device for imprinting characters on tape; said device comprising a marking roll mounted on a marking arm and having selected characters defining at least a portion of its peripheral surface and in engagement with the tape, drive means engaging the tape and being powered by movement of the tape, said drive means comprising a drive roll, a pressure roll engaging the tape at the drive roll, means for urging the drive and pressure rolls toward one another so that the tape is compressed therebetween and urged against the peripheral surface of the drive roll so that the tape rotates the drive roll whereby the linear velocity at the peripheral surface of the drive roll is equal to the velocity of the tape, the tape engaging surfaces of the drive and pressure rolls being knurled so that the tape is at least partly embedded in the knurles to provide a positive nonslipping drive when subjected to external incremental pulls, connecting means interconnecting the drive roll and marking roll for rotating the marking roll such that the peripheries of the two rolls have substantially the same linear velocity, a backup roll engaging the tape at the marking roll, said backup and marking rolls being biased together so that the tape is compressed therebetween, the characters on the marking roll have substantially the same linear velocity as the linear velocity of the tape, whereby a clear printed impression of the characters will be left on the tape, the drive and marking rolls being substantially aligned so that the tape passes between the rolls in a substantially straight path, an inking roll mounted on an inking arm, the inking and marking arms being swingably mounted for limited rotation about a single axis coincident to the axis of rotation of the drive wheel, means for biasing the inking roll toward the marking roll for engagement with the characters thereon, and adjustable limit means for preventing the inking roll from advancing toward the marking roll beyond a predetermined position.

Claim 9

A device for imprinting characters on tape; said device comprising a marking roll mounted on a marking arm and having selected characters defining at least a portion of its peripheral surface and in engagement with the tape, drive means engaging the tape and being powered by movement of the tape, said drive means comprising a drive roll, a pressure roll engaging the tape at the drive roll, means for urging the drive and pressure rolls toward one another so that the tape is compressed therebetween and urged against the peripheral surface of the drive roll so that the tape rotates the drive roll whereby the linear velocity at the peripheral surface of the drive roll is equal to the velocity of the tape, the tape engaging surfaces of the drive and pressure rolls being knurled so that the tape is at least partly embedded in the knurles to provide a positive nonslipping drive when subjected to external incremental pulls, connecting means interconnecting the drive roll and marking roll for rotating the marking roll such that the peripheries of the two rolls have substantially the same linear velocity, a backup roll engaging the tape at the marking roll, said backup and marking rolls being biased together so that the tape is compressed therebetween, the characters on the marking roll have substantially the same linear velocity as the linear velocity of the tape, whereby a clear printed impression of the characters will be left on the tape, the drive and marking rolls being substantially aligned so that the tape passes between the rolls in a substantially straight path, an inking roll mounted on an inking arm, the inking and marking arms being swingably mounted for limited rotation about a single axis coincident to the axis of rotation of the drive wheel, means for biasing the inking roll toward the marking roll for engagement with the characters thereon, and adjustable limit means for preventing the inking roll from advancing toward the marking roll beyond a predetermined position.

Claim 12

A device for imprinting characters on independently driven tape comprising: 1 A rotatable marking roll having selected characters defining at least a portion of its peripheral surface, 2 a rotatable drive roll mounted a fixed lateral distance from the marking roll when in tape imprinting position, 3 a rotatable pressure roll juxtaposed with respect to the drive roll and biased toward the drive roll to grip the tape therebetween, the pressure roll and drive roll being relatively movable to permit threading of tape therebetween, 4 a rotatable backup roll juxtaposed with respect to the marking roll and biased toward the marking roll to grip the tape therebetween, the backup roll and marking roll being relatively movable to permit threading of tape therebetween,

Claim 13

A device for imprinting characters on independently driven tape comprising: 1 A rotatable marking roll having selected characters defining at least a portion of its peripheral surface, 2 a rotatable drive roll mounted a fixed lateral distance from the marking roll when in tape imprinting position, 3 a rotatable pressure roll juxtaposed with respect to the drive roll and biased toward the drive roll to grip the tape therebetween, the pressure roll and drive roll being relatively movable to permit threading of tape therebetween, 4 a rotatable backup roll juxtaposed with respect to the marking roll and biased toward the marking roll to grip the tape therebetween, the backup roll and marking roll being relatively movable to permit threading of tape therebetween,