US3669014A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means including two die sets for embossing and applying foil to a sheet
Assignee: Hallmark Cards Inc
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Filing: 1969-08-29
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Granted: 1972-06-13
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Expires: 1989-08-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for dry engraving sheets of material wherein the method includes holding a sheet fixed in a first position while die stamping a layer of decorative foil thereon to present a specific design, shifting the sheet to a second position in alignment with an embossing die while retaining control over the sheet during shifting thereof, and holding the sheet fixed in the second position while embossing the sheet to form raised areas thereon underlying the foil design impression in exact registration therewith to simulate an engraved design. The apparatus includes a pair of side-by-side, oppositely reciprocable shuttle bars each having a series of vacuum ports therein which communicate with a vacuum source in timed relationship to the reciprocation of the respective bars. The shuttle bars thereby alternately shift new sheets into position for processing and cooperate to simultaneously hold fixed one sheet for foil design stamping thereof and another sheet for strategic area embossing thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene S Spaw
- 👤 Paul F Mcgrath
- 👤 Stanley W Otto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:00
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41F; B41F19/00; B41F19/02; B41F19/06; B41F19/064; B41P; B41P2219/00; B41P2219/20; B41P2219/60; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/17; Y10T156/1702; Y10T156/1705; Y10T156/1707
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
371 words
In a machine for dry engraving sheet material and provided with first and second pairs of spaced, opposed, relatively movable die set supports, and drive means for periodically moving said first pair of die set supports into proximal working relationship and for periodically moving said secOnd pair of set supports into proximal working relationship, there being means for supplying a strip of foil between said first pair of die set supports, the combination with said machine of: stamping structure on at least one of said die set supports of said first pair thereof and including raised areas conforming to a specific design; an embossing assembly on said second pair of die set supports and provided with opposed, mutually cooperable raised and depressed embossing sections carried by said opposed die set supports of said second pair and conforming to at least a part of said design; and mechanism including shiftable means operable to engage a sheet of said material and sequentially shift the sheet into a first stationary position between said first pair of die set supports and aligned with said structure, said sheet engaging means being operable to hold the sheet stationary in said first position while said drive means moves said first pair of die set supports into said working relationship to cause a layer of foil to be impressed on the sheet from the strip thereof by said structure and conforming to said design, said sheet engaging means then being shiftable without releasing the sheet to shift the latter into a second stationary position between said second pair of die set supports and with said layer of foil impressed on the sheet exactly aligned with said sections of the assembly, said sheet engaging means being operable to hold the sheet stationary in said second position while said drive means moves said second pair of die set supports into said working relationship thereof to emboss the sheet in precise alignment with said layer of foil impressed thereon, the embossing sections of the embossing assembly being greater in width than said raised areas of the stamping structure, the raised areas thereby being operable to impress portions of said foil layer which are narrower than corresponding underlying embossed portions of said sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
371 words
In a machine for dry engraving sheet material and provided with first and second pairs of spaced, opposed, relatively movable die set supports, and drive means for periodically moving said first pair of die set supports into proximal working relationship and for periodically moving said secOnd pair of set supports into proximal working relationship, there being means for supplying a strip of foil between said first pair of die set supports, the combination with said machine of: stamping structure on at least one of said die set supports of said first pair thereof and including raised areas conforming to a specific design; an embossing assembly on said second pair of die set supports and provided with opposed, mutually cooperable raised and depressed embossing sections carried by said opposed die set supports of said second pair and conforming to at least a part of said design; and mechanism including shiftable means operable to engage a sheet of said material and sequentially shift the sheet into a first stationary position between said first pair of die set supports and aligned with said structure, said sheet engaging means being operable to hold the sheet stationary in said first position while said drive means moves said first pair of die set supports into said working relationship to cause a layer of foil to be impressed on the sheet from the strip thereof by said structure and conforming to said design, said sheet engaging means then being shiftable without releasing the sheet to shift the latter into a second stationary position between said second pair of die set supports and with said layer of foil impressed on the sheet exactly aligned with said sections of the assembly, said sheet engaging means being operable to hold the sheet stationary in said second position while said drive means moves said second pair of die set supports into said working relationship thereof to emboss the sheet in precise alignment with said layer of foil impressed thereon, the embossing sections of the embossing assembly being greater in width than said raised areas of the stamping structure, the raised areas thereby being operable to impress portions of said foil layer which are narrower than corresponding underlying embossed portions of said sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
102 words
A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes a conveying unit adjacent said structure and the assembly provided with a pair of shiftable components disposed to receive a sheet thereon, apparatus operably coupled to the component for shifting the same relatively, and actuatable means cooperable with the components for causing the sheet to be gripped and held on one of the components for shifting of the sheet from a remote location to said first position and to thereafter cause the sheet to be gripped and held on the other component for moving the sheet to said second position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said components and the actuatable means are operable to alternately pick up a sheet from said remote location and successively shift the sheet to said one position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A machine as set forth in claim 3, wherein said components and the actuatable means are alternately operable to shift a sheet from said one position to the second position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said components and the actuatable means are operable to simultaneously deliver a sheet to the first position from said remote location while conveying a sheet from the first position to the second position and a sheet from the second position to a delivery position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said pair of components are each provided with at least one vacuum port, vacuum pump means operably communicating with the ports in said components and means operably associated with the pump means and said port for controlling communication of the ports of respective components with the pump means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A machine as set forth in claim 6, wherein said pair of components are mounted for reciprocation in opposite directions, each of the components being provided with a plurality of said vacuum ports spaced in the direction of said reciprocation at intervals corresponding to the distance between said structure and said assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
142 words
A machine as set fortH in claim 7, wherein is provided vacuum lines communicating the pump means with the ports of each component respectively, valve means in each of said vacuum lines, and a control unit operably associated with said valve means for alternately opening and closing the valve means of said components respectively to effect the gripping of a sheet on said one component during shifting from said remote location to said first position, simultaneous gripping and holding of the sheet on said one component and said other component during die stamping of the sheet, release of the sheet from said one component and holding of the same on the other component during movement thereof to said second position, and thereafter simultaneous gripping and holding of the sheet on said other component and said one component during embossing of the sheet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
A machine as set forth in claim 8, wherein said conveying unit includes a stationary component disposed between said pair of shiftable components and having a pair of vacuum ports therein spaced in alignment with said structure and said assembly and periodically communicating with said pump means and said ports in the stationary component for effecting communication of the ports in said stationary component with said pump means during die stamping and embossing of a sheet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
A machine as set forth in claim 7, wherein said apparatus includes a prime mover having a rotary shaft, a rocker element mounted for swinging movement between a pair of opposed limits, link means interconnecting said shaft and the rocker element for effecting said swinging movement of the same, and flexible means interconnecting said rocker element and said pair of shiftable components to effect said relative shifting thereof upon rotation of said shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A machine as set forth in claim 10, wherein is provided means engageable with said rocker element at each of said limits respectively for actuating said control unit to effect said alternate opening and closing of the valve means in said vacuum lines.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-13 | 1975-12-13 | 1976-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-13 | 1979-12-13 | 1980-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-13 | 1983-12-13 | 1984-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |