Device for imprinting successive numbers on moving boxes or the like

Claim 1

A device for imprinting successive numbers or the like on successive articles as the latter move along a given path comprising, base means; rotary drive means supported by said base means for free rotary movement with respect thereto, said rotary drive means being situated in the path of movement of an article to be frictionally engaged and driven by the latter as the article travels along said path; imprinting means carried by said rotary drive means for imprinting numbers or the like on an article as the latter passes said rotary drive means and rotates the latter, said imprinting means being adjustable for imprinting the successive numbers or the like; adjusting means coacting with said displacement in response to the rotation of said rotary drive means and coupled to said imprinting means for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next during each revolution of said rotary drive means in response to said displacement of said adjustment means; and positioning means for angularly positioning said rotary drive means at a given starting position including a latch carried by said base means, a rotor to be engaged by said latch and affixed to said rotary drive means for rotary movement therewith so as to locate the latter in a given angular position determined by said latch, and spring means coacting with said rotor and rotary drive means to be actuated in response to rotation of the latter for automatically situating said rotor and said rotary drive means at a predetermined angular position as long as said rotary drive means has been turned through a predetermined initial increment by engagement with an article moving along said path.

Claim 2

A device for imprinting successive numbers or the like on successive articles as the latter move along a given path comprising, base means; rotary drive means supported by said base means for free rotary movement with respect thereto, said rotary drive means being situated in the path of movement of an article to be frictionally engaged and driven by the latter as the article travels along said path; imprinting means carried by said rotary drive means for imprinting numbers or the like on an article as the latter passes said rotary drive means and rotates the latter, said imprinting means being adjustable for imprinting the successive numbers or the like; adjusting means coacting with said displacement in response to the rotation of said rotary drive means and coupled to said imprinting means for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next during each revolution of said rotary drive means in response to said displacement of said adjustment means; and positioning means for angularly positioning said rotary drive means at a given starting position including a latch carried by said base means, a rotor to be engaged by said latch and affixed to said rotary drive means for rotary movement therewith so as to locate the latter in a given angular position determined by said latch, and spring means coacting with said rotor and rotary drive means to be actuated in response to rotation of the latter for automatically situating said rotor and said rotary drive means at a predetermined angular position as long as said rotary drive means has been turned through a predetermined initial increment by engagement with an article moving along said path.

Claim 9

A device for imprinting successive numbers or the like on successive articles as the latter move along a given path comprising, base means; rotary drive means supported by said base means for free rotary movement with respect thereto, said rotary drive means being situated in the path of movement of an article to be frictionally engaged and driven by the latter as the article travels along said path; imprinting means carried by said rotary drive means for imprinting numbers or the like on an article as the latter passes said rotary drive means and rotates the latter, said imprinting means being adjustable for imprinting the successive numbers or the like; adjusting means coating with said base means for displacement in response to the rotation of said rotating drive means and coupled to said imprinting means for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next during each revolution of said rotary drive means in response to said displacement of said adjustment means; support means carrying said base means and supporting the latter for swinging movement toward and away from an article as the latter moves along said path; spring means acting through said base means on said rotary drive means to maintain the latter in frictional engagement with said article; first and second swingable arms carried by said support means for swinging movement about an axis coinciding with the axis about which said base means swings; a transfer roll mounted for free rotation on said first swingable arm coating with said imprinting means for transferring ink thereto, said transfer roll being operatively connected to said rotary drive means to be driven thereby when said rotary means is rotated by a traveling article; and an ink-impregnated roll mounted for free rotation on said second swingable arm and engaging said transfer roll for supplying ink thereto.

Claim 10

A device for imprinting successive numbers or the like on successive articles as the latter move along a given path comprising, base means; rotary drive means supported by said base means for free rotary movement with respect thereto, said rotary drive means being situated in the path of movement of an article to be frictionally engaged and driven by the latter as the article travels along said path; imprinting means carried by said rotary drive means for imprinting numbers or the like on an article as the latter passes said rotary drive means and rotates the latter, said imprinting means being adjustable for imprinting the successive numbers or the like; adjusting means coating with said base means for displacement in response to the rotation of said rotating drive means and coupled to said imprinting means for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next during each revolution of said rotary drive means in response to said displacement of said adjustment means; support means carrying said base means and supporting the latter for swinging movement toward and away from an article as the latter moves along said path; spring means acting through said base means on said rotary drive means to maintain the latter in frictional engagement with said article; first and second swingable arms carried by said support means for swinging movement about an axis coinciding with the axis about which said base means swings; a transfer roll mounted for free rotation on said first swingable arm coating with said imprinting means for transferring ink thereto, said transfer roll being operatively connected to said rotary drive means to be driven thereby when said rotary means is rotated by a traveling article; and an ink-impregnated roll mounted for free rotation on said second swingable arm and engaging said transfer roll for supplying ink thereto.

Claim 13

A device for imprinting successive numbers or the like on successive articles as the latter move along a given path comprising, base means; rotary drive means supported by said base means for free rotary movement with respect thereto, said rotary drive means being situated in the path of movement of an article to be frictionally engaged and driven by the latter as the article travels along said path; imprinting means carried by said rotary drive means for imprinting numbers or the like on an article as the latter passes said rotary drive means and rotates the latter, said imprinting means being adjustable for imprinting the successive numbers or the like; and adjusting means coating with said base means for displacement in response to the rotation of said rotary drive means and coupled to said imprinting means for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next during each revolution of said rotary drive means in response to said displacement of said adjustment means; said rotary drive means including a cylinder formed with an opening through which said imprinting means extends to engage an article, said cylinder having an interior core carrying said imprinting means, and a shaft supported for rotary movement by said base means and carrying said core, said adjusting means including a cam plate fixedly mounted on said base means and having an aperture therethrough, said shaft being journaled through said aperture, said cam plate being formed with a circular camming groove in a surface thereof, said camming groove extending about the aperture in said cam plate and being eccentrically positioned relative to said shaft, and displaceable cam follower means coacting with said imprinting means and riding in said camming groove for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next in response to the rotation of said rotary drive means.

Claim 14

A device for imprinting successive numbers or the like on successive articles as the latter move along a given path comprising, base means; rotary drive means supported by said base means for free rotary movement with respect thereto, said rotary drive means being situated in the path of movement of an article to be frictionally engaged and driven by the latter as the article travels along said path; imprinting means carried by said rotary drive means for imprinting numbers or the like on an article as the latter passes said rotary drive means and rotates the latter, said imprinting means being adjustable for imprinting the successive numbers or the like; and adjusting means coating with said base means for displacement in response to the rotation of said rotary drive means and coupled to said imprinting means for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next during each revolution of said rotary drive means in response to said displacement of said adjustment means; said rotary drive means including a cylinder formed with an opening through which said imprinting means extends to engage an article, said cylinder having an interior core carrying said imprinting means, and a shaft supported for rotary movement by said base means and carrying said core, said adjusting means including a cam plate fixedly mounted on said base means and having an aperture therethrough, said shaft being journaled through said aperture, said cam plate being formed with a circular camming groove in a surface thereof, said camming groove extending about the aperture in said cam plate and being eccentrically positioned relative to said shaft, and displaceable cam follower means coacting with said imprinting means and riding in said camming groove for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next in response to the rotation of said rotary drive means.